Methods of operating an access point using a plurality of directional beams

ABSTRACT

Multi-directional antenna apparatuses, which may include phased array antennas and/or arrays of multiple antennas, and methods for operating these directional antennas. In particular, described herein are apparatuses configured to operate as an access point (AP) for communicating with one or more station devices by assigning a particular directional beam to each access point, and communicating with each station device using the assigned directional beam at least part of the time. Methods and apparatuses configured to optimize the assignment of one or more directional beam and for communicating between different station devices using assigned directional beams are described.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/019,321, filed Jun. 30, 2014, and titled “PHASEDARRAY ANTENNAS;” and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/954,244,filed Mar. 17, 2014, and titled “MANAGING AN ARRAY OF ANTENNAE OF ANACCESS POINT”. Each of these patent applications is herein incorporatedby reference in its entirety.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

All publications and patent applications mentioned in this specificationare herein incorporated by reference in their entirety to the sameextent as if each individual publication or patent application wasspecifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.

FIELD

In general, described herein are directional antennas including phasedarray antennas and arrays of multiple antennas, and methods foroperating the directional antennas. Also described herein are compactlacunated lenses that may be used for beamforming a phased array antennaand/or for filtering.

BACKGROUND

The phenomenal growth of mobile devices, including smart phones andtablet computers, has resulted in a huge demand in wireless networks.Particularly, Wi-Fi networks, which are based on the Institute ofElectrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards,are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. In a typical Wi-Fi network, anend-user device (end device) can move freely within the range of anaccess point's (AP's) radio transceiver while maintaining high-speeddata connectivity.

In a large-scale network, such as an enterprise or campus network,provisioning such a Wi-Fi network is non-trivial. One challenge is howto increase the coverage of an AP to cover a large area with a few APs,while providing a user with the desired performance from the Wi-Finetwork. An end device can wirelessly communicate with an AP within thecoverage are of the AP. An AP's coverage depends on its antenna(e). AnAP can have one or more omni-directional and/or directional antennaethat provide coverage to the surrounding area of the AP. Anomni-directional antenna radiates radio waves (i.e., electromagneticwave) in all directions, and a directional antenna radiates radio wavesto a specific direction.

Typically, a directional antenna radiates with higher power than anomni-directional antenna in the direction associated with the antenna.This allows the antenna to increase its performance on transmission andreception. Because the antenna operates in a specific direction,communication by the directional antenna faces interference only fromdevices operating in its directional radiation. This facilitates reducedinterference than an omni-directional antenna.

Currently, to facilitate a large-scale Wi-Fi coverage and increasedperformance, an AP can be equipped with a plurality of directionalantenna. This approach to construct an AP requires a respectivedirectional antenna to be individually configured and managed.Furthermore, end device in the coverage of a respective antenna usuallycontend among each other for airtime with the AP (i.e., transmissiontime between the AP and an end device), leading to a low-utilization ofthe wireless bandwidth provided by the antenna.

Phased array antennas are one type of directional antenna that may helpaddress these problems. A phased array is an array of antennas in whichthe relative phases of the respective signals feeding the antennas arevaried in such a way that the effective radiation pattern of the arrayis reinforced in a desired direction and suppressed in undesireddirections. Thus, the antenna may be considered “directional” as thebeam from the antenna may be directed (formed) in a desired direction.Beamforming may be particularly useful when preserving power, signalstrength and operating time in communicating between devices, both froman AP to one or more client devices as well as to/from an AP and anotherAP, base station, etc.

Existing beamforming lenses for phased array antennas, such as thewell-known Rotman lenses, are well described for use in microwavesystems, and may be used for RF systems. Unfortunately, such lenses mustbe relatively large and expensive, particularly in the RF frequencyrange (e.g., between 2 GHz and 50 GHz). Although various improvements inRotman lenses have been proposed, such improvements typically reduce theefficacy of the lens, and require somewhat expensive and complicatedarrangements of features, including multiple dielectric materials. See,for example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,736,503 to Zaghloul et al., which requiresa strip of negative refractive index medium bisecting a positiverefractive index medium. Thus, a compact and efficient electronic lensthat is inexpensive to operate and manufacture would be very useful.

An antenna array may be a group of multiple active antennas coupled to acommon source or load to produce a directive radiation pattern. Thespatial relationship of the individual antennas may also contribute tothe directivity of the antenna array. Use of the term “active antennas”may be used to describe elements whose energy output is modified due tothe presence of a source of energy in the element (other than the meresignal energy which passes through the circuit) or an element in whichthe energy output from a source of energy is controlled by the signalinput. One common application of this is with a standard multibandtelevision antenna, which has multiple elements coupled together.

Described herein are phased array antennas that enhance base stationgain by focusing the signal transmission and reception in a narrowerbeam that, in turn, reduces transmission interference and increasesrange. For example, the array antennas described herein may be used inbase station applications to solve key limitations of traditional wideand narrow beam technologies. In wide beam communication, a signal istransmitted and received over a wide angle to overcome physicalobstructions and uneven terrain. Unfortunately, this form oftransmission can be inefficient and noisy. Narrow beam communicationrequires many antennas and frequency channels to provide the broadcoverage associated with wide beam communication. The phased arrayantennas described herein may combine narrow beam technology and timebased multiplexing of transmissions and receptions to overcome bothchallenges.

The phased array devices described herein may provide base stationdesign that delivers high antenna gain and broad coverage by using acombination of narrow beams in various directions. This design may allowfrequencies to be re-used by having beam transmissions and receptions indifferent directions take place at different times. This increases theefficiency of spectrum usage by allowing re-use of frequency bands,which enables the use of more radios on the same tower and thedeployment of our products in environments where limited frequency bandsare available in the unlicensed spectrum.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

Described herein are multi-directional antenna apparatuses, which mayinclude phased array antennas and/or arrays of multiple antennas, andmethods for operating these directional antennas. As used herein, adirectional antenna apparatus may refer to a device of system ofantennas that can direct multiple beams forming multiple antenna beampatterns (antenna patterns) for use in transmitting and/or receivingdata. In particular, described herein are apparatuses configured tooperate as an access point (AP) for communicating with one or morestation devices by assigning a particular directional beam to eachaccess point, and communicating with each station device using theassigned directional beam at least part of the time. The apparatus maybe assign directional beams to station devices a predeterminedinfrequent times (e.g., less than once per minute, once per fiveminutes, once per 10 minutes, once per 20 minutes, once per 30 minutes,etc.) using an efficient assignment protocol in which directionaltraining packets are transmitted from each of a plurality of directionalbeams at the predetermined times, and one or more response packets(returned from station devices in response to the training packets) arereceived. The apparatus may be configured to interpret either or boththe contents of the response packets (which can reference a particulardirectional beam and may include a priority value indicating thegoodness of that directional beam) and/or the strength of the receivedresponse packet to designate a particular directional beam to thestation device.

These apparatuses and methods may be used with any apparatus capable ofselectively operating a plurality of directional beams, includingapparatuses having a plurality of directional antennas and/or phasedarray antennas. In addition to apparatuses and methods for controllingthe operation of an access point having a plurality of directionalbeams, also described herein are phased array antennas that may beoperated in this manner, as well as systems, devices and methods(including components) that may be use used as part of a phased arrayantenna particularly well suited for operating as an access point. Forexample, described herein are compact radio frequency (“RF”) lenses thatmay be used for beamforming phased array antennas or for operating as acompact RF filter, as well as systems and methods for adapting a USBconnection to identify the device being connected via the USBconnection.

For example, described herein are antennas, antenna systems, and methodof making and using them. Any of the antennas described herein may bephased array antennas. The phased array antennas may include a compactbeamforming lens having a plurality of openings through the body of thelens. These lenses may be referred to as a lacunated lens. In general, alacunated lens may have a body having at least two parallel platesseparated by a dielectric material, and may have multiple openings,gaps, holes, etc. (lacuna) at least partially through the body of thelens. The lens may be a microstrip. The lens typically includes multiplebeam ports for steering the beam and multiple antenna ports. Signals(e.g., RF electromagnetic signals) applied to a beam port will beemitted from each of the antenna ports at a predetermined time delay foreach antenna port that depends on the identity of the beam port,steering the beam of the antenna. Thus, each beam port has an associated(e.g. predetermined) beam steering angle (e.g., any angle between −90°and 90°, including but not limited to: −50°, −45°, −40°, −35°, −30°,−25°, −20°, −15°, −10°, −5°, 0°, 5°, 10°, 15°, 20°, 25°, 30°, 35°, 40°,45°, 50°) The antenna ports are typically on a side of the lens oppositefrom the beam ports.

A lacunated lens may be a compact electrical lens device for beamformingan array of antenna elements. For example, a lens device may include: alens body comprising parallel plates separated by a dielectric, the lensbody having an outer perimeter and an inner region within the outerperimeter; a plurality of beam ports on the outer perimeter of the lensbody, wherein each beam port corresponds to a predetermined steeringangle; a plurality of antenna ports on the outer perimeter of the lensbody; and a plurality of openings in the inner region of the lens bodywithin at least one plate of the parallel plates of the lens body,wherein the openings are arranged through the lens body so that anelectromagnetic signal entering the lens body from any one of the beamports will exit from each of the antenna ports at a time delaycorresponding to the predetermined steering angle of the beam port fromwhich the electromagnetic signal entered the lens body.

A lacunated lens may also be a compact electronic lens that may be usedfor beamforming an array of antenna elements, or it may also beconfigured as an amplifier (similar to a butler matrix amplifier) thatincludes: a lens body comprising parallel plates separated by adielectric, the lens body having an outer perimeter and an inner regionwithin the outer perimeter; a plurality of input ports on the outerperimeter of the lens body, wherein each input port corresponds to apredetermined steering angle; a plurality of output ports on the outerperimeter of the lens body; and a plurality of openings in the innerregion of the lens body within at least one plate of the parallel platesof the lens body, wherein the openings are arranged through the lensbody so that an electromagnetic signal entering the lens body from anyone of the input ports will exit from each of the output ports at a timedelay corresponding to the predetermined steering angle of the inputport from which the electromagnetic signal entered the lens body. Theinput ports and output ports may also be referred to (particularly whenconfigured for beamforming) as beam ports and antenna ports,respectively.

For example, a compact RF electronic lens device may include: a lensbody, the lens body comprising a ground plate, a dielectric substrate ontop of the ground plate, and a conductor plate on top of the dielectricsubstrate; a plurality of input ports on an outer perimeter of the lensbody, wherein each input port corresponds to a predetermined steeringangle; a plurality of output ports on the outer perimeter of the lensbody; and a plurality of openings within the lens body through theconductor plate, wherein the openings are configured so that anelectromagnetic signal entering the lens body from any one of the inputports will exit from each of the output ports at a time delaycorresponding to the predetermined steering angle of the input port fromwhich the electromagnetic signal entered the lens body.

A compact electronic RF lens device may include: a lens body having anupper surface, a thickness, and a lower surface parallel to the uppersurface, the lens body having an outer perimeter and an inner regionwithin the outer perimeter; a plurality of input ports on the outerperimeter of the lens body, wherein each input port corresponds to apredetermined steering angle; a plurality of output ports on the outerperimeter of the lens body; and a plurality of openings into the lensbody within the inner region through the upper surface, wherein theopenings are configured so that an electromagnetic signal entering thelens body from any one of the input ports passes through the lens bodyalong multiple paths around the openings and exits from each of theoutput ports at a time delay that is characteristic of the predeterminedsteering angle of the input port from which the electromagnetic signalentered the lens body.

The compact RF lens device may be configured as a lacunated lens forbeamforming an array of antenna elements, and may include: a lens bodyhaving an upper surface, a thickness, and a lower surface parallel tothe upper surface, the lens body having an outer perimeter and an innerregion within the outer perimeter; a plurality of beam ports on theouter perimeter of the lens body, wherein each beam port corresponds toa predetermined steering angle; a plurality of antenna ports on theouter perimeter of the lens body; and a plurality of openings into thelens body within the inner region through the upper surface, wherein theopenings are configured so that an electromagnetic signal entering thelens body from any one of the beam ports passes through the lens bodyalong multiple paths around the openings and exits from each of theantenna ports at a time delay that is characteristic of thepredetermined steering angle of the beam port from which theelectromagnetic signal entered the lens body.

In general, an electromagnetic signal entering the lens body from anyone of the input ports (e.g., beam ports) passes through the lens bodyalong multiple paths around the openings and exits from each of theoutput ports (e.g., antenna ports) at a time delay that ischaracteristic of the predetermined steering angle of the beam port fromwhich the electromagnetic signal entered the lens body.

As mentioned, the lens may include a microstrip (e.g., the lens body maybe a microstrip). In general, the lens body may have a square shape. Thelens body may be generally square (e.g., it may have projections or“bump out” regions), so that the overall shape is square. In general,the lens body may be small, particularly for the frequency of radiowaves processed by the lens. For example, the lens may beamform RFsignals between 2 GHz and 50 GHz (e.g., between 2 GHz and 30 GHz,between 2 GHz and 20 GHz, between 3 GHz and 6 GHz, between 10 GHz and 21GHz, etc.), and the lens body may have a maximum diameter of less thanabout 10 cm, less than about 9 cm, less than about 8 cm, less than about7 cm, etc. (e.g., the dimensions of the lens body are less than about 8cm×8 cm, 7 cm×7 cm, 9 cm×9 cm, etc.). For example, the lens body may beless than about 8 cm×8 cm and the plurality of openings may beconfigured so that an electromagnetic signal between about 2 GHz andabout 30 GHz entering the lens body from any one of the input portspasses through the lens body along multiple paths around the openingsand exits from each of the output ports at a time delay that ischaracteristic of the predetermined steering angle of the input portfrom which the electromagnetic signal entered the lens body.

The input ports may generally be arranged on the outer perimeter of thelens body opposite from the output ports. The plurality of input portsmay comprise 3 input ports or more. For example, the lens may have fiveinput ports and each input port in the set of input ports may have adedicated steering angle (e.g., −40°, −20°, 0, 20, 40; −35, −17, 0, 17,35; etc.). The input ports may each have a predetermined steering anglethat is at or between about −90° and 90°, e.g., at or between −45° andabout 45°, e.g., at or between −35° and 35°, etc.).

The plurality of output ports may generally comprise 3 or moreindividual output ports (e.g., 4 output ports, 5 output ports, 6 outputports, 7 output ports, 8 output ports, 9 output ports, 10 output ports,11 output ports, 12 output ports, etc.).

In general, the lens body includes parallel surfaces (planes) or plates.In the lacunated lens at least one of the surfaces/planes forming thebody of the lens has multiple holes, opening, gaps, etc. (lacuna)therethrough. These opening may pass completely through the lens, or mayextend through just one of the planes and the dielectric. The openingswithin the lens body may be of any appropriate size (e.g., between about2% and 30% of the surface area of the plane of the lens body. In total,the openings through the lens body may take up more than 30%, 40%, 50%,60%, 70%, 80% (or more) of the surface area (e.g., of an upper surface)of the lens body. As mentioned, the openings in the lens body may extendthrough the dielectric between the plates, for example, the openings inthe lens body may extend from the conductor plate and through thedielectric. The openings in the lens body may extend through the uppersurface and through the dielectric between the upper and lower surfaces.

In general, described herein are methods of operating a compactelectronic lens having a lens body, wherein the lens body has an uppersurface forming a plane, a lower surface parallel to the upper surface,a dielectric between the upper and lower surface, and a plurality ofopenings through the upper surface, the method comprising: applying afirst electromagnetic signal to a first input port of the lens body,wherein the first input port is associated with a first predeterminedsteering angle; passing the first electromagnetic signal from the firstinput port through the lens body along multiple paths around theopenings so that the first electromagnetic signal exits each of aplurality of output ports at a time delay for each output port that ischaracteristic of the first predetermined steering angle; applying asecond electromagnetic signal to a second input port of the lens body,wherein the second input port is associated with a second predeterminedsteering angle; and passing the second electromagnetic signal from thesecond input port through the lens body along multiple paths around theopenings so that the second electromagnetic signal exits each of aplurality of output ports at a time delay for each output port that ischaracteristic of the second predetermined steering angle.

Also described herein are methods of beamforming an array of antennaelements using a compact electronic lens (e.g., a lacunated lens). Thecompact electronic lens may have a lens body, wherein the lens body hasan upper surface forming a plane, a lower surface parallel to the uppersurface, a dielectric between the upper and lower surface, and aplurality of openings through the upper surface. For example, a methodof beamforming with a lacunated lens may include: applying a firstelectromagnetic signal between about 2 GHz and about 30 GHz to a firstinput port of the lens body, wherein the first input port has a firstpredetermined steering angle; passing the first electromagnetic signalfrom the first input port through the lens body along multiple pathsaround the openings so that the first electromagnetic signal exits eachof a plurality of output ports at a time delay for each output port thatis characteristic of the first predetermined steering angle; applying asecond electromagnetic signal to a second input port of the lens body,wherein the second input port has a second predetermined steering angle;and passing the second electromagnetic signal from the second input portthrough the lens body along multiple paths around the openings so thatthe second electromagnetic signal exits each of a plurality of outputports at a time delay for each output port that is characteristic of thesecond predetermined steering angle.

The first predetermined steering angle and the second predeterminedsteering angle are typically different and may be between any of theranges described herein (e.g., −90 to 90°, −60° to 60°, −45° to 45°, −35to 35°, −30 to 30°, etc.).

The method of beamforming may also include electrically switching fromthe first input port to the second input port. In general, anyappropriate electrical switching technique may be used.

The method may also include emitting the signal from each of a pluralityof antenna elements, wherein each antenna element is coupled to one ofthe output ports.

Also described herein are phase antenna devices that include any of thelenses (e.g., the lacunated lenses) described herein. For example, aphased array antenna device having a compact electronic lens forbeamforming may include: a radio frequency (RF) input; an electroniclens having a lens body, wherein the lens body has an upper surfaceforming a plane, a lower surface parallel to the upper surface, adielectric between the upper and lower surface, a plurality of openingsthrough the upper surface of the lens body, a plurality of input portson an outer perimeter of the lens body, wherein each input portcorresponds to a predetermined steering angle, and a plurality of outputports on the outer perimeter of the lens body; a switch configuredswitch the RF input between the input ports; and a plurality of antennaelements, wherein each antenna element is coupled to one of the outputports.

Also described herein are phased array antenna devices having a compactelectronic lens (e.g., a lacunated lens) for beamforming. A phased arrayantenna may include: a radio frequency (RF) input configured to connectto an RF transceiver; an electronic lens having a lens body, wherein thelens body has an upper surface forming a plane, a lower surface parallelto the upper surface, a dielectric between the upper and lower surface,a plurality of openings through the upper surface of the lens body,wherein the openings are configured so that an electromagnetic signalentering the lens body from any one of the input ports passes throughthe lens body along multiple paths around the openings and exits fromeach of the output ports at a time delay that is characteristic of thepredetermined steering angle of the input port from which theelectromagnetic signal entered the lens body, a plurality of input portson an outer perimeter of the lens body, wherein each input portcorresponds to a predetermined steering angle, and a plurality of outputports on the outer perimeter of the lens body; a steering controlconfigured to control a switch to switch the RF input between the inputports to steer the device; and a plurality of antenna elements, whereineach antenna element is coupled to an output port from the plurality ofoutput ports.

In general, a phased array antenna device having a compact electroniclens for beamforming may include: a radio frequency (RF) input having avertical RF line and a horizontal RF line; a vertical electronic lenshaving a vertical lens body, wherein the vertical lens body has an uppersurface forming a plane, a lower surface parallel to the upper surface,a dielectric between the upper and lower surface, a plurality ofopenings through the upper surface of the vertical lens body, aplurality of input ports on an outer perimeter of the vertical lensbody, wherein each input port corresponds to a predetermined steeringangle, and a plurality of output ports on the outer perimeter of thevertical lens body. The device may also include a horizontal electroniclens having a horizontal lens body, wherein the horizontal lens body hasan upper surface forming a plane, a lower surface parallel to the uppersurface, a dielectric between the upper and lower surface, a pluralityof openings through the upper surface of the horizontal lens body, aplurality of input ports on an outer perimeter of the horizontal lensbody, wherein each input port corresponds to a predetermined steeringangle, a plurality of output ports on the outer perimeter of thehorizontal lens body; a switch configured switch the vertical RF linebetween the input ports of the vertical lens body and to switch thehorizontal RF line between the input ports of the horizontal lens body;and a plurality of antenna elements, wherein each antenna element iscoupled to an output port from the plurality of output ports on thehorizontal lens body and an output port from the plurality of outputports on the vertical lens body.

In general, any of the compact lenses described herein may be relativelysmall, particularly compared to prior art lenses operating on similarradio frequencies. For example, an RF input may be configured totransmit an RF signal between about 2 GHz and about 50 GHz (e.g.,between 2 GHz and 30 GHz), and the upper surface may have a surface arealess than about 8 cm×8 cm (or a maximum dimension of less than about 12cm, e.g., less than 11 cm, less than 10 cm, less than 9 cm, less than 8cm, etc.).

Any of the phased array antennas described herein may include anintegrated transceiver, or may be configured to mate with a transceiver(e.g., a more general-purpose transceiver) using the RF input device.The transceiver may be an RF radio.

As described above, any of the phased array antennas described hereinmay include multiple (e.g., lacunated) lenses. For example, any of thesedevices may include a second electronic lens having a second lens body,wherein the second lens body has a second upper surface forming a plane,a second lower surface parallel to the second upper surface, a seconddielectric between the second upper and second lower surface, a secondplurality of openings through the second upper surface of the secondlens body, a plurality of input ports on an outer perimeter of thesecond lens body, wherein each input port corresponds to a predeterminedsteering angle, and a second plurality of output ports on the outerperimeter of the second lens body. Thus, a phased array antenna may havea horizontal and a vertical polarization path for emitting/receiving RFsignals on the antenna, and each path may have a dedicated lens.

The antenna radiating elements (antenna elements) may be of anydesirable dimension and shape, as appropriate for the frequencies to betransmitted and/or received. For example, the antenna elements may beradiating disks. In some variations the antenna elements includingmultiple (discrete) radiating elements that are electrically connected.For example, each of the antenna elements may comprise a line ofelectrically connected radiating disks.

The one or more lenses included as part of the phased array antennasdescribed herein may include any of the features described for thelenses, such a lens body comprising a microstrip, a lens body having asquare (or roughly square) shape, input ports arranged on the outerperimeter of the lens body opposite from the output ports, etc.

In addition, any of the phased array antennas described herein mayinclude one or more omnidirectional antenna elements. For example, aphased array antenna may also include one or more omnidirectionalantenna elements connected to the RF input that bypass the vertical lensand the horizontal lens. An omnidirectional may broadcast/receive in anun-steered manner (e.g., over a broad directional range) and/or maybroadcast/receive a fixed directional range. For example, an antenna mayinclude an omnidirectional antenna element that is connected to thevertical RF line and the horizontal RF line and bypasses the verticallens and the horizontal lens.

Also described herein are techniques, including methods and apparatuses,for connecting a radio device (e.g., transceiver) to an antenna, andparticularly to a phased array antenna, using a pair of USB connectors,where the ground portion of the connectors is used to identify to theradio device the type of antenna to which the radio device is connected.In some variations this connection may also be used to help control(e.g., steer) the antenna. Identifying and/or controlling the type ofantenna connected to an RF radio may be particularly relevant invariations in which the radio (transceiver) is configured/adapted to beconnected to a variety of different antenna. For example, a radio mayhave a self-contained body with one or more (e.g., a horizontal RFconnector (input/output) and a vertical RF connector (input/output) aswell as a USB connector. The radio and/or antenna may also transmitpower via the USB connector(s), including Power over Ethernet (POE).

For example, a method of connecting a radio device to an antenna mayinclude: connecting a (e.g., a self-contained) radio device having afirst USB connector to an antenna having a second USB connector; andidentifying the antenna based on a voltage of the ground pin on thesecond USB connector.

A method of connecting and configuring a radio device to work with anantenna may include: connecting the radio device having a first USBconnector to an antenna having a second USB connector; identifying theantenna based on a voltage of the ground pin on the second USBconnector; and configuring the radio device based on the identity of theantenna to transmit and receive data using the antenna.

In any of these variations, the method may also include transmittingsteering information from the radio to a beamforming lens of the antennawhen the antenna is identified as a phased array antenna. The method mayalso include configuring the radio device based on the identity of theantenna to transmit and receive data using the antenna. Configuring theradio device may include sending control information to the antenna forsteering, timing or otherwise processing signals to/from the antenna.Configuring may also include configuring the output/input of the radiodevice when communicating with the antenna. For example, configuring maycomprises transmitting control information from the radio device to theantenna. Configuring may include transmitting steering information fromthe radio device to a beamforming lens of the antenna. Thus, identifyingthe type of antenna my include identifying (from a predetermined set ofinformation, e.g., look-up table, based on as sensed parameter)characteristics of the antenna such as the number of input ports andoutput ports, etc.

The step of connecting may include connecting one or more radiofrequency (RF) connectors between the radio device and the antenna. Forexample, as mentioned, the radio may include a horizontal and verticalRF connector, each of which may be connected to the antenna.

In general, connecting may include connecting the USB port of the radiodevice to the USB port of the antenna. Further, identifying may includeusing a detection circuit to compare the voltage of the ground pin onthe second USB connector to a predetermined voltage. The detectioncircuit may be part of the radio device or may be connectable to theradio device. The detection circuit may also be referred to as anidentification circuit, which identifies the type of antenna to which aradio is connected.

In general, identifying the antenna may include determining a digitalidentifier of the antenna based on the voltage of the ground pin on thesecond USB connector. Identifying may include comparing the voltage of aground pin on the second USB connector to a predetermined voltage.

The method of connecting and/or identifying an antenna to a radio devicemay also include biasing the ground pin on the second USB connector to apredetermine voltage (e.g., the ground pin on the antenna USBconnector).

Also described herein are apparatuses (e.g., devices and systems,including radio/transceiver devices) that are adapted to detect (and/orcontrol) the type of antenna to which the radio device is connected. Forexample, described herein are radio devices that may be used with avariety of antennas and are configured to identify and/or control thetype of antenna to which they are connected through the ground pin(s) ofa USB connector. Thus, a radio device may include: a receiver configuredto receive RF signals; a transmitter configured to transmit RF signals;at least one RF output/input line; a USB port; and a detection circuitconnected to a ground pin of the USB port and configured to compare thevoltage of the USB port to a predetermined value and output an indicatorof the identity of a type of antenna when the USB port of the radiodevice is connected to the USB port of the antenna.

The detection circuit may include a plurality of comparators configuredto compare the voltage of the ground pin of the USB port to apredetermined value. The radio device of claim 13, wherein the detectioncircuit is configured to do a resistive measurement to generate adigital signal indicative of the identity of the type of antenna.

As mentioned above, any of the radio devices described herein may beconfigured to transmit steering information when the detection circuitdetects a phased array antenna.

In general, described herein are methods of operating an antennaapparatus (including, but not limited to the phased array antennasdescribed herein) capable of specifying a plurality of differentdirectional beams as an access point. Thus, for example, any of theantennas described herein may be used as part of an access point, eitheralone, or in combination with other antennas. Thus, also describedherein are methods and systems for operating an access point comprisingan array of antennas.

For example, as mentioned above, described herein are method ofoperating an access point in a wireless network, wherein the accesspoint is configured to operate a plurality of directional beams, themethod comprising: transmitting a training packet for each of theplurality of directional beams of the access point, wherein eachtraining packet includes an identifier specific to the directional beamtransmitting the training packet; receiving at the access point, inresponse to the training packet, a response packet from a stationdevice, wherein the response packet includes the identifier specific tothe directional beam transmitting the training packet and a priorityvalue associated with one or more criteria for directional beamselection; designating a directional beam from the plurality ofdirectional beams for communicating with the station device based on thepriority value received in the response packet; and transmitting databetween the access point and the station device using the directionalbeam designated for the station device to transmit data to the stationdevice.

A method of operating an access point in a wireless network (wherein theaccess point is configured to operate a plurality of directional beams)may include: assigning one of the directional beams from the pluralityof directional beams to a station device, by: transmitting a pluralityof training packets, wherein each training packet identifies adirectional beam and is transmitted using the identified directionalbeam; receiving a response packet from a station device, wherein theresponse packet identifies one of the directional beams of the pluralityof directional beams and includes a priority value associated with oneof the training packets; and designating the station device adirectional beam based on the priority value; and transmitting databetween the access point and the station device using the directionalbeam designated for the station device to transmit data to the stationdevice.

More than one station devices may be assigned directional beams by thismethod. For example, any of these methods may include assigning adirectional beam from the plurality of directional beams to a secondstation device. Directional beams may be assigned from the plurality ofdirectional beams to a second station device, and transmitting databetween the access point and the second station device may use thedirectional beam assigned to the second station device.

The method of assigning directional beams to specific station devices(and apparatuses configured to do this) may be particularly configuredso that the steps of assigning (e.g., transmitting the training packets,receiving response packets and assigning or re-assigning directionalbeams) is done only infrequency, e.g., at predetermined intervals thatare less than once per half-minute, once per minute, once per second,once per 2 sec, once per 5 sec, once per 10 sec, once per 15 sec, onceper 30 sec, once per 1 min, once per 2 min, once per 3 min, once per 5min, once per 10 min, once per 15 min, once per 20 min, once per 30 min,once per hour, etc.). For example, transmitting the training packet foreach of the plurality of directional beams may mean transmitting thetraining packet less frequently than once every second, once every fiveseconds, etc.

The methods and apparatuses described herein may also be configured sothat the data rate between the access point (e.g., phased array antenna)and any of the station device communicating with the access point isselectable and may be matched to the use of a particular directionalbeam and/or particular timeslots dedicated to station devices andun-dedicated time slots. For example, any of the methods or apparatusesmay be configured to transmit signals from the station device to theaccess point at a first rate using the directional beam designated forthe station device during a first time period assigned to the stationdevice and transmit signals from the station device to the access pointat a second, lower rate without using the directional beam designatedfor the station device during a second time period.

Any of the apparatuses and methods described herein may be configured tooperate with a different directional beam for transmission to thestation device and receiving data from the station device. For example,described herein are methods and devices in which transmitting data fromthe access point to the station device may include using a firstdesignated directional beam (for that particular station device) andreceiving data at the access point from that station device may use asecond direction beam that is different from the designated directionalbeam. Thus, in any of these methods and apparatuses, separate receivedirectional beams and transmit directional beams may be assigned (e.g.,by the access point). For example, the apparatus or method may beconfigured to include designating a receive directional beam from theplurality of directional beams for receiving signals from the stationdevice.

As mentioned, any of the methods of operating the access point describedherein may be performed using a phased array antenna and/or using aplurality of antennas including directional antennas. Thus, for example,transmitting data may generally comprise transmitting data from one of aplurality of directional antennas forming the access point, wherein eachdirectional antenna is associated with a directional beam from theplurality of directional beams. In some variations, transmitting datacomprises transmitting data from a phased array antenna forming theaccess point, wherein the phased array antenna phased array antennacomprises phase angles associated with directional beams from theplurality of directional beams.

The phased array antenna may be beamformed in any way, including usingany type of phase shifter, or array of phase shifter, and/or it may usea lens (e.g., compact lacunated lens as described herein) Transmittingdata may include transmitting data from a phased array antenna atdifferent phase angles wherein the phased array antenna includes aplurality of phase shifters configured to select the directional beamsof the access point.

In general, the methods and apparatuses described herein may beconfigured to construct the training packets and receive responsepackets so that directional beams may be assigned to particular stationdevices. For example, the method (or an apparatus configured to performthe method) may include constructing the training packets in a processorof the access point. A training packet may be constructed for each of aplurality of directional beams (e.g., beam angles), and the trainingpacket specific to a particular directional beam may encode a referenceto that directional beam; it may then be transmitted at that directionalbeam by the access point. A reference to the directional beam mayinclude a reference to the particular antenna (e.g., when dedicateddirectional antennas are used), phase angle (e.g., phrase arrayantennas), or any other reference indicating the directional beam fromthe access point.

The response packet typically includes a reference to the directionalbeam and the station device transmitting the response packet, as well asa specific priority value related to the goodness of the signal receivedby the station device. For example, the priority value may include anindicator of one or more of: signal strength; packet error rate; or amodulation scheme. In some variations the response value may be thecarrier to interference noise ratio (CINR) and/or error vector magnitude(EVM).

As mentioned, in any of these variations, the apparatus may beconfigured to operate using TDMA, and to designate timeslots forupstream and/or downstream transmission/reception between the accesspoint and the various station devices. In particular, these apparatusesmay operate by shifting the data rate (and the directional beam) so thatat timeslots dedicated for communication between the access point and aparticular station device, a first mode (e.g., a higher ratetransmission mode) may be used along with the assigned directional beamfor that station, while at timeslots that are not specific to aparticular station device (e.g., unassigned time slots, general timeslots, overflow time slots, etc.) a different, e.g., lower rate mode,may be used, without the specific directional beam for that station.

For example, a method of operating an access point in a wirelessnetwork, wherein the access point is configured to operate a pluralityof directional beams, may include: assigning each of a plurality ofstation devices one of the directional beams from the plurality ofdirectional beams; allocating upstream timeslots to each of theplurality of station device and allocating general upstream timeslotsthat are not associated with a single station device; receiving data ata first rate at the access device from a station device of the pluralityof station devices during an upstream timeslot allocated to the stationdevice and using the directional beam assigned for the station device;receiving data at a second data rate at the access device from a stationdevice of the plurality of station devices during a second upstreamtimeslot that is a general upstream timeslot.

For example, the first rate may have a different modulation scheme thanthe second rate; e.g., the first rate may be higher than the secondrate. Receiving data at the second rate may include using a directionalbeam that is different from the directional beam assigned to the stationdevice. In some variations different upstream directional beams anddownstream directional beams may be used for all or some of the stationsdevices. Any of these methods may also include allocating downstreamtimeslots to each of the plurality of stations devices and transmittingdata (e.g., at the first rate) to a station device of the plurality ofstations during a downstream timeslot allocated to the station deviceand using the directional beam assigned for the station device.

Also described herein are methods of operating an access point in awireless network, wherein the access point is configured to operate aplurality of directional beams, the method comprising: assigning each ofa plurality of station devices one of the directional beams from theplurality of directional beams as a downstream directional beam;assigning each of a plurality of station devices one of the directionalbeams from the plurality of directional beams as an upstream directionalbeam; transmitting data from the access point to a station device of theplurality of station devices using the downstream directional beamassigned to the station device; and receiving data from a station deviceof the plurality of station using the upstream directional beam assignedfor the station device.

As mentioned, described herein are systems for operating an accesspoint, which comprises an array of antennae, in a wireless network.During operation, the access point sends a training packet via anantenna of the array of antennae. This training packet includes anidentifier of the antenna. The access point then receives a responsepacket corresponding to the training packet from an end device. Thisresponse packet includes the identifier of the antenna and priorityvalues associated with one or more criteria for antenna selection fromthe array of antennae. Based on the priority values, the access pointdetermines the antenna to be the designated antenna for communicatingwith the end device.

At least one of the antennae in the array of antennae may be a broadcastantenna. The access point may identify a second end device for which theaccess point has not designated an antenna and uses the broadcastantenna for communicating with the second end device. At least one ofthe antennae in the array of antennae may be a virtual broadcastantenna, which is logically coupled with a respective antenna of thearray of antennae. The training packet may be a multi-destinationpacket.

In response to selecting the antenna to be the designated antenna, theaccess point may transmit a packet to the end device via the antennaduring a dedicated downstream timeslot allocated for the end device.

A criterion in the criteria for antenna selection may correspond to: (1)signal strength of the end device, (2) packet error rate between theaccess point and the end device, or (3) a modulation scheme.

Also described are systems for operating an access point, whichcomprises an array of antennae, in a wireless network. During operation,the access point may send a training packet via an antenna of the arrayof antennae. This training packet can include an identifier of theantenna. The access point then receives a wireless acknowledgementpacket corresponding to the training packet from an end device anddetermines priority values associated with one or more criteria forantenna selection from the array of antennae based on the wirelessacknowledgement packet. Based on the determined priority values, theaccess point determines the antenna to be the designated antenna forcommunicating with the end device. The access point and the end devicemay contend for transmission time between the access point and the enddevice. The contention between the access point and the end devicecontent may be based on Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards. The training packet may bea uni-destination packet for the end device.

A criterion in the criteria for antenna selection may correspond to: (1)signal strength of the end device, (2) packet error rate between theaccess point and the end device, or (3) a modulation scheme.

Also described are antenna systems that include an array of antennaelements. A first subset of the antenna elements may be adapted totransmit an omni-directional signal. A second subset of the antennaelements may be adapted to transmit a directional signal with ahorizontal polarization. A third subset of the antenna elements may beadapted to transmit a directional signal with a vertical polarization.The antenna system may also include an antenna control module. Duringoperation, the antenna control module may send a training packet via thefirst subset of antenna elements, wherein the training packet includesan identifier of the antenna system. The antenna control module thenreceives a response packet corresponding to the training packet from anend device, wherein the response packet includes the identifier of theantenna system and priority values associated with one or more criteriafor selection of antenna elements. The antenna control module thendetermines a direction and polarization to be used for communicationwith the end device.

For example, described herein are phased array antenna apparatuses thatinclude: a controller; a radio frequency (RF) input connected to thecontroller; a plurality of phase shifters, wherein each phase shifter isconnected to the RF input and wherein each phase shifter is connected tothe controller; a plurality of antenna ports wherein each antenna portis connected to a phase shifter; an array of antenna elements, whereineach antenna element is coupled to one of the antenna ports; wherein thecontroller is configured for beamforming the apparatus by setting aphase angle for each of the phase shifters to directional beams; andwherein the controller is configured to assign a station device adirectional beam and to transmit data to the station device using theassigned directional beam, based on a response packet received from thestation device in response to a training packet emitted by the array ofantenna elements.

In general, the controller may be configured to periodically transmit atraining packet at each of a plurality of directional beams, wherein thetraining packet encodes an identifier of the directional beam. Thecontroller may be configured to assign the directional beam to a stationdevice based on the response packet received from the station device,wherein the response packet includes an identifier of a directional beamand a priority value associated with one of the training packets. Thecontroller may be configured to periodically transmit training packetsat each of a plurality of directional beams. For example, the controllermay be configured to periodically transmit training packets at each of aplurality of directional beams, wherein the period is less than onceevery second, 2 sec., 5 sec, 15 sec, 30 sec, 45 sec, 1 minute, etc.).

The controller may be configured to receive data from the station deviceat a first rate using the assigned directional beam at a first window oftime, and to receive data from the station device at a second, slower,rate when not using the assigned directional beam during a second windowof time. For example, the controller may be configured to allocateupstream timeslots to the station device and to allocate generalupstream timeslots that are not allocated to the station device, and toreceive data at a first rate from the station device devices during anupstream timeslot allocated to the station device using the assigneddirectional beam, and to receive data at a second data rate from thestation device during a second upstream timeslot that is not allocatedto the station device.

In general, a controller may be configured to assign each of a pluralityof station devices a directional beam based on a response packetreceived from each of the station devices in response to a trainingpacket emitted by the array of antenna elements, and to transmit data tothe station device using the assigned directional beam.

The array of antenna elements may be a flat array; the antenna elementsmay be arranged in parallel (e.g., vertical) rows of emitting elements.For example, each antenna element of the array of antenna elements maycomprise a line of emitting elements. Each antenna element of the arrayof antenna elements may comprise a line of disc-shaped emittingelements.

For example, a phased array antenna apparatus may include atwo-dimensional array of antenna emitters; and a radio frequency (RF)transceiver and steering subsystem connected to the 2D array of antennaemitters, and configured to generate a plurality of RF signals that arephase shifted relatively to each other for beamforming of the pluralityof RF signals emitted by the two dimensional array of antenna emitters.

In general, a radio frequency (RF) transceiver and steering subsystemmay include, as described above, an RF radio (transceiver), and aseparate or separable steering unit. The steering unit may be acontroller (e.g., control circuitry) and a steering element (e.g., aplurality of phase shifters and/or a lacunated lens). In some variationsthe control circuitry is part of the RF radio (transceiver). Thus theradio frequency (RF) transceiver and steering subsystem may operate aseach of these components (which are described above) operate.

For example, the radio frequency (RF) transceiver and steering subsystemmay comprise a plurality of phase shifters, wherein each phase shifteris connected to the RF transceiver and wherein steering subsystem isconfigured to set a phase angle for each of the phase shifters. Theradio frequency (RF) transceiver and steering subsystem may comprise alacunated lens. The radio frequency (RF) transceiver and steeringsubsystem may be configured to periodically transmit a training packetat each of a plurality of directional beams, wherein the training packetencodes an identifier of the directional beam.

Thus, any of the phased array antenna apparatuses described herein mayinclude: an antenna housing including; a two-dimensional array ofantenna emitters forming two or more vertical columns of disc-shapedemitting surfaces arrange in a flat plane on a front side of the antennahousing; a pair of flared wings extending vertically along two sides ofthe two-dimensional array; a radio frequency (RF) transceiver andsteering subsystem connected to the 2D array of antenna emitters, andconfigured to generate a plurality of RF signals that are phase shiftedrelatively to each other for beamforming of the plurality of RF signalsemitted by the two dimensional array of antenna emitters, wherein the RFtransceiver and steering subsystem comprises a radio device; and two ormore RF connectors on a back of the antenna housing, configured toconnect the radio device to the two-dimensional array of antennaemitters.

As mentioned, the antenna elements of the array of antenna elements maycomprise a line of emitting elements; for example, the antenna elementsof the array of antenna elements may comprise a line of disc-shapedemitting elements. In some variations, the antenna elements of thetwo-dimensional array of antenna elements comprise disc-shaped elementseach having a concave emitting surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features of the invention are set forth with particularity inthe claims that follow. A better understanding of the features andadvantages of the present invention will be obtained by reference to thefollowing detailed description that sets forth illustrative embodiments,in which the principles of the invention are utilized, and theaccompanying drawings of which:

FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C and 1D show front, side, side perspective, and backviews, respectively, of an phased array antenna as described herein thatis steerable using a compact (e.g., lacunated) lens having a pluralityof groups (or lines) of radiating antenna elements that may be used tosteer the beam of the antenna.

FIG. 2 illustrates the operation of a phased array antenna such as theone shown in FIGS. 1A-1D, communicating with a variety of wirelessdevices arranged at different azimuthal positions.

FIG. 3A schematically illustrates one variation of a phased arrayantenna including a compact electronic lens adapted for beamforming thephased array antenna.

FIG. 3B is another schematic of a phased array antenna such as the oneshown in FIG. 3A.

FIGS. 3C, 3D and 3E show back, side and front views, respectively,illustrating an example of components of a phased array antenna such asthe one shown schematically in FIG. 3B.

FIGS. 4A, 4B and 4C illustrate top views of variations of compact,electronic lenses for beamforming as described herein.

FIG. 5 is a top view of an example of a prior-art Rotman lens.

FIG. 6A is a schematic illustrating one variation of a phased arrayantenna having both horizontal and vertical transmission/receptionpaths, and including separate horizontal and vertical compact(lacunated) lenses.

FIG. 6B is a schematic illustration of one example of the antennaportion (showing an array of emitting antenna elements) as describedherein.

FIGS. 7A and 7B show top views of a portion of a phased array antennaincluding the switching circuitry and compact (lacunated) lenses asdescribed herein; the lenses shown may be used with a phased arrayantenna such as the one shown in FIG. 3C.

FIG. 8A shows a front perspective view of an exemplary antenna arrayhaving a plurality of emitting elements arranged in vertical groupssimilar to the variation shown in FIGS. 3E and 6B.

FIG. 8B is a side perspective view of the antenna array shown in FIG.8A.

FIG. 9A is a front view of another example of antenna (emitter) elementsof a phased array antenna.

FIG. 9B is a back view of the phased array antenna emitter elementsshown in FIG. 9A.

FIG. 9C shows one example of an antenna (emitter) element of the phasedarray antenna of FIG. 9A.

FIGS. 10A, 10B and 10C show front, side and back views, respectively, ofone variation of a phased array antenna that may be used with aremovable/replaceable RF radio (transceiver).

FIG. 10D is another example of a back view of the phased array antennaof FIGS. 10A-10C.

FIGS. 10E and 10F show back perspective and top views, respectively, orthe phased array antenna of FIGS. 10A-10C.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view of a phased array antenna that may be usedwith a removable RF radio, similar to the variation shown in FIGS.10A-10F.

FIG. 12A is a schematic illustration of a sensing (detection) circuitthat may be used with a removable (e.g., self-contained) RF radio todetect the type of antenna that the radio is connected to from theground pin of a USB connector.

FIG. 12B illustrates the identification of the identity of an antennawhen the radio is connected, using a circuit such as the one shown inFIG. 12A.

FIG. 13 schematically illustrates the control of a phased array antennathat is connected to an RF radio device once the antenna type has beenidentified by the radio.

FIGS. 14A-14M illustrate one method for setting up a phased arrayantenna, including connecting a removable RF radio with the phased arrayantenna (FIGS. 14A-14H), and mounting the connected phased array antenna(FIGS. 14I-14M).

FIG. 15A illustrates an exemplary array of antennae operating as an AP.

FIG. 15B illustrates an exemplary system managing an array of antennaeoperating as an AP.

FIG. 15C illustrates an exemplary an array of antennae, which includes abroadcast antenna, operating as an AP.

FIG. 15D illustrates an exemplary an array of antennae, which includes avirtual broadcast antenna, operating as an AP.

FIG. 16A presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of an APactively learning antenna association of end devices.

FIG. 16B presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of anend device facilitating active learning of antenna association.

FIG. 17 presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of an APpassively learning antenna association of end devices.

FIG. 18 presents an exemplary time-division multiple access (TDMA)channel access method of an AP.

FIG. 19A presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary downstreamtransmission process of an AP.

FIG. 19B presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary upstreamreception process of an AP based on dedicated timeslots.

FIG. 19C presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary upstreamtransmission process of an end device.

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary AP system that comprises an array ofantennae operating as the AP system.

FIG. 21 is another example of a system including an array of sectorantennas that may be controlled as an AP system as described herein.

FIG. 22 is another example of a system including an array of antennas orantenna elements, each phase shifted (e.g., to steer) that may becontrolled as an AP system as described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Phased array antennas are described herein, including phased arrayantennas that include a compact, electronic lens for steering(beamforming) the antenna. Features of the array antennas, and ofsystems including such antennas, are described in greater detail below,and may include: compact, electronic lenses (e.g., lacunated lenses) forsteering a phased array antenna, phased array antennas incorporatingsuch compact electronic lenses, phased array antennas adapted for usewith a removable, self-contained RF radio (transceiver) device, methodsand devices for identifying the type of antenna (including the type ofphased array antenna) to which a removable, self-contained RF radio isconnected, methods and device for controlling a phased array antenna bya removable, self-contained RF radio, and arrangements of antenna(emitting) elements within a phased array antenna. Also described hereinare systems and methods of operating an access point using an antennaarray, which may include one or more phased array antennas, includingthose described herein. Any of the elements and features describedherein may be used alone or in combination.

For example, FIGS. 1A-1D illustrate one variation of a phased arrayantenna. This variation is configured as a phased array base stationantenna. A phased array antenna may include a plurality of emittingantenna elements that may be placed on and/or in a housing 101. Thehousing may include a cover to protect the antenna elements, e.g., fromweather. In FIGS. 1A-1D the housing also includes a pair of flared‘wings’ 103 extending vertically along two of the four sides. Thesewings may shield the antenna elements, and may be formed of a metal(shielding) material.

In FIGS. 1A-1D the phased array antenna is adapted to be mounted, asillustrated in more detail below, in an upright, vertical position, andcan be controlled by the beamforming lens to scan or orient azimuthally(e.g. in the horizontal direction). The back of the housing of thephased array antenna shown in FIG. 1D illustrates the mounting portions105, 107 and a connection region 111. The housing may also include alevel (e.g., spirit level 113) for assisting in alignment of the device.

In operation, a phased array antenna may communicate wirelessly by RFsignal transmission with one or more wireless devices within range ofthe phased array antenna. As illustrated schematically in FIG. 2, asingle phased array antenna 209 may direct beams to one or more wirelessdevices. For example, in FIG. 2, three exemplary devices 211, 213, 215are illustrated. The phased array antenna may be steered electronically,without requiring gross movement of the antenna, to communicate witheach of the three devices that are separated from each other in space(e.g., azimuthally). The phased array antenna may be connected to asecond phased array antenna or another type of wireless device(including an antenna) and/or may be configured as an access point. FIG.2 is a top view of (e.g., looking down on) a phased array antennadeployed to communicate with a variety of wireless devices. The phasedarray antenna may be configured as a base station.

Any of the phased array antennas described herein may include or may beadapted to connect with, a radio (RF radio) device that acts as atransceiver (transmitter and receiver) for RF signals at one or moredesired frequencies. For example, the apparatus shown in FIGS. 1A-1D maybe configured to accommodate an RF radio (e.g., the Ubiquity “RocketM5”) and which may connect on a portion (e.g., the back) of the device.Alternatively, the devices described herein may include an integratedradio. Thus, the transceiver can also be incorporated into the device.

FIG. 3A schematically illustrates the operation of a phased arrayantenna as described herein. In this example, the antenna includes or isconnected to an RF radio 301 that provides input to the antenna,including a steering angle selection switch 305 and an electronic lens307 that effectively steers the antenna emitting element(s) 311. Forexample, the RF antenna may provide RF signal input/output, which may bea single input/output or may include multiple (e.g., parallel)input/output signals, including horizontal and vertical polarizationsignals. The radio may also configured the output/input signals usingany appropriate technique, e.g., single and multiple access/encodingsuch as frequency-division multiple access (FDMA) and frequency divisionduplex (FDD), etc. Finally, the radio may be connected to the phasedarray antenna through one or multiple connections, including connectionsto steer the antenna to direct the antenna beam towards a particulartarget azimuthal direction (e.g., 40°, 20°, 0°, −20, −40°) from theorientation of the antenna. In FIG. 3A the switch 305 may select theangle of the phased array antenna by selecting which input ports (e.g.,“beam ports”) 331 feeding into the lens 307. In this example, five beamports are illustrated. Each beam port has a characteristic (e.g.,predetermined) angle associated with that particular beam port. In FIG.3A, the angle associated with each beam port is indicated above the beamport (e.g., 40°, 20°, 0°, −20, −40°). Because of the structure of thecompact electronic lens 307, the output port (e.g., antenna ports) 333of the lens may be time-delayed relative to data sent and/or received bya particular beam port, resulting in steering of the beam to theparticular angle, as indicated. For example, if input is applied non thebeam port associated with the −20° phase angle, signals applied into thelens from this beam port will result in a wave front 341 as indicated inFIG. 3A. Similarly, by switching between any of the other beam ports 331of the lens 307, the antenna beam may be steered to any of the otherpredetermined azimuthal angles (indicated by dashed lines in thisexample). In some variations, by applying the same signal tocombinations of beam ports the beam may be steered to intermediatetargets, alternatively, the apparatus may be configured so that signalsmay be applied onto to a single beam port at a time. Details of thestructure and operation of the lens are provided in greater detailbelow.

FIG. 3B shows another schematic example of a phased array antenna,similar to that shown in FIG. 3A. In this example, the radio 301,steering angle select switch(s) 305 and lens 307 (including beam portsand antenna ports) may be similar to those shown in FIG. 3A, howeverantenna 311 emitting elements 315 are also illustrated on the antenna.The antenna is oriented so that the emitting elements 315 will bepositioned vertically to allow azimuthal steering of the RF signals. Inthis example, the emitting elements 315 are configured as elongatedemitting elements; each emitting element may be a single emitter or aplurality of connected emitters, as illustrated in FIG. 3E.

In the example shown in FIG. 3B, the switch(s) 305, lens 307, andantenna emitters may be included in the antenna housing. In somevariation the radio may also be included within the same housing. Forexample, as shown in FIG. 3C, a single PCB 351 may be used to hold/formthe switch(s) and lens(s) within the housing and may be connected toeach of the antenna emitting elements. In FIGS. 3C-3C, the PCB ismounted on one side (e.g., the back side) of a support that also holdsthe plurality of antenna emitting elements 315. Each of the antennaports of the lens are connected by electrical connections (e.g., wires,traces, etc.) to each of the antenna emitting elements 315. In FIG. 3C,the antenna includes 48 individual antenna emitting elements 315,arranged in six vertical lines of eight individual emitting elements;within this arrangement, each of the eight individual elements areelectrically connected so that all eight emit/receive synchronously.This arrangement of lines of connected individual emitting element isparticularly beneficial, and may help in focusing the beam in theelevation plane. However, rather than multiple linked elements, a singleantenna emitting element may be used.

In FIGS. 3C-3E the apparatus is configured to connect to a radio (notshown). As mentioned, the radio may be integrated into the device, andmay be formed on the same PCB as the lens and switches. In this example,the antenna consists of an array of approximately cone-shaped disk/wafertransmitters 315 on a panel. The antenna board connects to theelectronic lens board, so that the phased array may direct the directionof the focused radio wave signal. Any appropriate radio (transceiver)can be connected to the phased array antenna and may provide directionaltransmission of radio waves.

The compact lenses described herein are adapted for electronic beamsteering. These lenses are compact beam steering lenses may be formedfrom parallel plates (for example, a stripline) where there are aplurality of openings (holes, gaps, lacuna, etc.) formed in the plane ofthe lens body.

For example, the lens body may be formed of two parallel, conductiveplates separated by a dielectric material. The lens body extends in aplane (parallel with each of the plates), and the holes, gaps, lacunae,etc. in the body may be formed into this plane. Because of the multipleholes/openings/gaps/lacunae in the lens body, these lenses may bereferred to as lacunated lenses.

In general, a lacunated lens allows steering of a beam of a phase-arrayantenna without the need for phase shifters. As mentioned above inreference to FIGS. 3A-3B, a lacunated lens typically has multipleantenna beam ports, where each beam port has an associated (predefinedand predetermined) constant phase shift and has multiple antennainput/output ports (e.g., array output ports) that are each connected toantenna radiating elements. The beam ports may be referred to as antennabeam ports, antenna beam input ports, input ports, or beam phase ports.The beam ports can be connected to switches that allow switching betweenthe beam ports to determine the angle of the beam for the array antenna.The lacunated lens also includes a plurality of antenna ports forconnection to antenna elements. The antenna elements may also bereferred to as antenna radiating/receiving elements, radiating elementsor antenna receiving elements.

Antenna elements are typically connected on one side of the lacunatedlens, with beam ports connected on the opposite side of the lacunatedlens. The lacunated lens may also be thought of as a quasi-microstrip(or quasi-stripline) circuit where each beam port represents (or resultsin) a constant phase shift at the antenna ports, by feeding (orreceiving from) the antenna elements at phases that vary linearly acrossa row. The variations in phase result in steering of the phased array,as illustrated in FIG. 3A.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate variations of lacunated lenses. In general, thelacunated lens has a carefully chosen shape and location of the lacunaor openings through the parallel plates within the inner region of thelens; these openings produce a wave front across the antenna ports thatis phased by the time delay in the signal transmission, so that eachbeam port correspond to a distinct beam angle shift at the output.Aiming the array antenna may involve selecting a specific beam port (orcombinations of beam ports). For example, the lens may have N beam portsand M antenna ports, where the N beam ports each correspond to adifferent phase angle, and the M antenna ports each connect to adistinct antenna element.

This is illustrated in FIG. 4A. In This example, the lacunated lens hasfive beam ports 405 (in this example, N is 5) and also has five antennaports 410 (M is 5). The lens is formed from as a microstrip so thatthere are multiple cut-out regions 403 (openings, lacuna, etc.) in theplane forming the lens, within the body of the lens 401 between the beamports and the antenna ports. In this example, the lens may be formed asa printed circuit board (e.g., microstrip) structure, although otherparallel-plate structures could be used. For example, the lens may beprinted using an FR4 (e.g., FR408) material. FR408 is a high-performanceFR-4 epoxy laminate having a low dielectric constant and low dissipationfactor.

In this example, the holes (which may also be described as opening,lacuna, cut-outs, etc.) are regions where the signal is not passedthrough the body of the lens. Thus, the radio signal must travel in apath through the regions between the openings along the body 401. Ingeneral, the opening may have any shape. Although FIG. 4A shows theopenings as generally rectangular, the openings may be square,triangular, circular, five-sided, six-sided, seven-sided, eight-sided,etc. For example FIG. 4C illustrates openings having different sizes andshapes, including oval and triangular. The number of openings may alsobe varied. For example, in some variations the number of openings may begreater than 2, greater than M, greater than N, greater than M×N, etc.The shape and sizes of the openings may be selected based on the pathlength and transit time, as well as the constructive and destructiveeffects of traveling through the parallel plate structure havingmultiple separate but converging paths. In each case the signalinput/output at a particular beam port may be pre-defined (e.g., to havea desired phase angle and location on the edge of the lens body), andthe number of antenna beam ports may also be predefined. By varying thenumber, sizes and locations of the openings through the lens body, theone or more solutions resulting in the predetermined timing delaycausing the phase shift at the antenna ports may be resolved. In theexamples shown in FIGS. 4A-4C the openings are symmetric about a midlinetransverse to the antenna ports and beam ports. This symmetry may not benecessary. In addition, the examples shown are intended to providerelatively evenly spaced phase angle shifts; the spacing between phaseangles may be irregular (e.g., for a set of five antenna ports, −40°,−30°, 10°, 15°, 40°), and customized.

Thus, the arrangement of the openings as well as the overall shape(e.g., outer perimeter) of the plane forming the body of the lens may bemodified to adjust the phase shift of the lens, and may be determinedexperimentally or solved for by simulation. In general, the timing of asignal from each of the beam ports to each of the antenna ports throughthe body of the lens, including traveling around the holes, maydetermine the effective phase at each of the antenna ports. The lengthand connection of each antenna port to each antenna emitting element mayalso be included in this estimate, so that the steering can bedetermined. In addition, the overall shape of the lens body may bevaried. For example, in FIG. 4A the lens body has a grossly rectangularshape; while in FIGS. 4B and 4C, the lens body is more regularlyrectangularly (or square) shaped. The lens body may have other shapes(e.g., trapezoidal, oval, pentagonal, hexagonal, heptagonal, octagonal,oval, etc.).

In general, these lenses operate in both transmission and reception ofelectromagnetic signals. For example, steering the beam to betransmitted may involve feeding a signal to one of the different inputports (or for steering to intermediate angles, feeding combinations ofports). As described above, the beam is steered by phasing the timedelay of transmission from the array of emitting elements based on theangle desired. Receiving signals from one (or combinations of) beamports (“listening” on these beam ports) may determine the angle fromwhich a signal was received by the antenna.

The lenses described herein are particularly compact and efficient.Traditional lenses for beamforming, such as Rotman lenses and variationsthereof, are structured differently, and must therefore be much largerthan the lacunated lenses described here.

For example, a traditional Rotman lens has a plurality of inputs withfixed/constant phase shift, a plurality of outputs that each connect toa radiating element, and a plurality of dummy ports to providereflectionless termination. A Rotman lens generally has a carefullychosen shape and appropriate length transmission lines to produce a wavefront across the output that is phased by the time delay in the signaltransmission. For example, FIG. 5 shows an example of a basic diagram ofa traditional Rotman lens. The Rotman lens in FIG. 5 consists of a setN_(b) of input (beam) ports and a set of N_(a) output (array/antenna)ports arranged along an arc. The lens structure between both sets ofports functions as an ideal transmission line between the individualinput and output ports. The signal applied to an input port is picked upby the output ports, and the different electrical lengths between aspecific input and all output ports generates a linear progressive phaseshift across the output ports of the lens. A large number of terminal or“dummy” ports are also an integral part of the Rotman lens and serve asan absorber for the spillover of the lens and thus it reduces multiplereflections and standing waves which deteriorate the lens performance.The design of these types of lenses is governed by the Rotman-Turnerdesign equations, based on the geometry of the lens. These equationsassume a solid parallel plate region (e.g., without holes) and thepresence of dummy ports.

A principle advantage, and distinction, between the lacunated lensesdescribed herein and traditional Rotman-type lenses is the sizing. For aparticular band of frequencies, the lacunated lenses described hereinmay be made substantially smaller than Rotman lenses. For example, atypical Rotman lens may require a roughly 12×12 cm lens when operatingin the RF frequency range (e.g., 2 GHz to 30 GHz). A lacunated lens asdescribed herein may have comparable or superior performance at afraction of this size. For example, the lacunated lens shown in FIGS.4A-4C and other examples may be about 5 cm×6 cm or smaller. Withoutintending to be bound by a particular theory of operation, this may be aresult of the increased path lengths resulting from the holes throughthe body of the lens in the lacunated lenses described herein, asmentioned above.

FIGS. 6A and 6B illustrate another example of a phased array antennausing lacunated lenses. In this example, the phased array antennareceives both horizontal and vertical polarization input from the RFradio 601, and may separately transmit/receive the horizontal andvertical signal components through a dedicated horizontal componentlacunated lens 607 and a vertical component lacunated lens 609. In FIG.6A, the radio 601, which may be integrated with or separate from therest of the antenna, connects the RF horizontal and vertical signalcomponents to the switch 605. Additional control elements (processors,etc.) may be used either as part of a control for the phased arrayantenna or (more likely) as part of the RF radio; the additional controlmay determine the control information/configuration for the phased arrayantenna, including which beam ports to use, and timing of the appliedenergy. The two lenses may be steered together (e.g., in tandem) orindependently, and each lens may be connected (via the antenna ports) toeach of the antenna emitting elements. In FIG. 6A, there are fiveantenna ports for each lens, and six antenna emitting lines. As shown inFIG. 6B, each antenna emitting line may comprise multiple, linkedantenna emitting elements; in FIG. 6B, eight emitting elements 627 areconnected 631, 633 in a vertical line (which may improve focus in theelevation plane). Each of the first five lines of antenna emittingelements is connected to one of the antenna ports of each of thehorizontal lens 607 and the vertical lens 609. In addition, in thisexample, the sixth antenna emitting line of emitting elements isconnected directly 615, 617 to the vertical and horizontal components,without being time-delayed through a lens. Thus, the antenna may includean omni-directional set of antenna elements 625 in addition to thebeamformed (aimed) sets.

FIGS. 7A and 7B illustrate one example of a pair of lenses such as thosedescribed for FIGS. 6A and 6B above, in which the lenses are formedalong with the switches (e.g., on a PCB) and include connectors 703 forconnecting the antenna ports to the array of antenna emitting elements(not visible in FIGS. 7A and 7B). As shown in FIG. 7B, this example hasfive antenna ports 705 for the horizontal lens, one horizontalomni-directional connection 707, five antenna ports 709 for the verticallens, and one vertical omni-directional connection 711.

These ports may be connected to the antenna emitting elements (e.g., onan opposite side of the antenna housing). As shown in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 9A,9B and 9C, the antenna emitting elements may be arranged in an array sothat the line of emitting elements (which may be referred tocollectively as an antenna element, and therefore includes one or moreantenna emitting elements) and connected to the appropriate antennaports. For example, FIGS. 9A and 9B show front and back portions,respectively or an array of antenna elements. In FIG. 9A, eight antennaemitting elements are shown connected to form a line (vertical line)making an antenna element. In FIG. 9B the connections to the antennaports on the back side of the antenna substrate is shown. FIG. 9C showsan enlarged view, with exemplary dimensions, of a single antennaemitting element.

FIGS. 10A to 10F illustrate one variation of an assembled phased arrayantenna including a pair of lacunated lenses for horizontal and verticalcomponents of RF signal communication. In this example, the apparatus isconfigured to dock with a RF radio device on the back of the antenna. Itmay be configured to accommodate a variety of transceivers.Alternatively, the transceiver can also be incorporated into the deviceitself.

As mentioned, inside, the antenna consists of an array of cone-shapeddisk/wafer transmitters on a panel. The antenna board connects to theelectronic lens board, using the phased array to direct the direction ofthe focused radio wave. FIG. 10D illustrates one variation of a back ofthe phased array antenna including mounting regions 1003 and connectionsfor coupling to the RF connectors 1005, 1005′ (e.g., horizontal andvertical RF component connectors). As discussed below, the back may alsoinclude a USB port 1007. A spirit level 1011 may also be included tohelp align the antenna. Finally, the back may include attachmentelements for coupling to an RF Radio device, including a cover or shroud1013 for covering the radio once connected.

FIG. 11 shows an exploded view of the device of FIGS. 10A-10F. In thisexample, the phased array antenna includes a front cover 1, and a rearhousing 2. The rear housing may include the wings/deflectors describedabove, as well as attachments for the mounts (e.g., radio mount 5, pivotmount 16, 17; pole-mounting brackets 13, 15, 18, and mounting screws 26,27), connecting cables (e.g., RF cables 10 connecting the RF radio tothe antenna) and a cover for an RF radio that can attach to the back ofthe apparatus (not shown). As mentioned above, a spirit level (bubblelevel) 9 may be integrated into the cover (e.g., back cover). Betweenthe front and back covers, the internal components may include theplurality of antenna emitting elements 12 (disk-like cones), eachconnected by screws/nuts to an antenna PCB 6. Connections between theindividual antenna emitting elements may be made by a conductiveelement, such as a wire or trace; in FIG. 11 the conductive element is aconductive tape that can be used to connect a line of antenna emittingelements into a grouped antenna element, shown having eight individualantenna emitting elements, each. A printed circuit board 7 (lens PCBA)with the lens and control circuitry (e.g., switches, etc.) may bepositioned behind the antenna PCB. A ground plate 31 is shown separatingthe front antenna side from the back circuitry/lens side. A plurality ofcables 11 may connect the lens and control circuitry to the antennaelements (e.g., 130 mm cables). Fasteners such as screws and bolts maybe used to secure the various components. Finally, as shown in FIG. 11,a seal 3 (e.g., gasket) may be positioned between the front and backcovers.

The examples above illustrate the use of a lacunated lens as a compactbeamforming element. However the lenses described herein may be used fora variety of other effects, including in particular as an amplifier. Forexample, any of the lenses described herein could be configured tooperate (similar to a Bulter matrix) as a mulit-port amplifier, which iscapable of selectively (or piecemeal) amplification by dividing a singleinput signal into N-signals or combining N-signals into a single output.For example, two or more of the lense devices (such as those shown inFIGS. 4A-4C) may be connected together (and even stacked atop each otherfor compact packing) to feed into each other. For example, withreference to FIG. 4A, energy applied into the input port(s) (e.g., anyone of them) may be divide out into the M output ports; the output ofall or just some of these output ports may be (e.g., individually)amplified, amplifying the energy, and the output could be fed intoanother lens and re-combined. As a result, each amplifier used toamplify the final output would need less power and/or may be smaller andmore compact (and require both space and less overhead, e.g., forcooling). This may further allow the use of smaller, less expensiveamplifiers, including chip amplifiers.

Thus, the lenses described herein may be used in virtually anyapplication that a Bulter matrix may be used, however the lensesdescribed herein have numerous advantages over Bulter matrix devices,including their compact dimensions. A Butler matrix is typically alarger multilayered device, and may be difficult to use, in contract tothe compact single (e.g., single dielectric) layer lenses describedherein.

Connection to Radio/Transceiver

As mentioned above, any of the antennas described herein may be usedwith a removable/connectable RF radio (also referred to as atransceiver). Alternatively, in some variations the radio may bededicated and/or permanently integrated into the antenna.

In variations in which the radio may be connected to the antenna, theradio may be a radio that is configured to be operated with varioustypes of antennas and removably connected to an antenna, such as thephased array antennas as described above. For example, a radio may be anRF radio. The radio may include a transmitter and receiver, and mayinclude one or more outputs/inputs (e.g., RF outputs/inputs) such as ahorizontal polarization output/input and a vertical polarizationoutput/input, as well as USB connector (of any appropriate type, such asa micro USB connector). Any of the antennas described herein may alsoinclude a USB connector or any appropriate type (e.g., a USB type Aconnector). As will be described in greater detail below, whenconnecting the device, the radio may be connected so that the datainput/outputs (such as the RF outputs) are connected to the antenna, andthe USB ports between the radio and antenna may also be connected. Power(e.g., POE) may be transmitted through the USB to power the antenna. Ingeneral, the radio device (e.g., transceiver), such as a 2×2 MIMO radio,can be paired with the antenna to transmit/receive.

In variations in which the radio may be used with a variety of differentantennas, including the phased array antennas described herein that canbe beamformed (aimed) on different devices (e.g., client or targetdevices, such as wireless devices as shown in FIG. 3), the radio devicemay benefit from knowing the identity of the antenna that it isconnected to, so that the radio may control the direction of the beam(e.g., steer) the beam during operation of the radio. For example, theradio may control the modulation technique (TMDA, etc.) or otherwiserouting traffic to and from the radio. Thus, the radio (which may alsobe referred to as a transceiver) may be configured to detect andidentify the antenna that it is paired with, and, based on the identityof the antenna, configured the radio so as to transmit and receive usingthe antenna, including provide control signals to the antenna (e.g., foraiming the antenna). This may be particularly useful with the phasedarray antennas described herein.

By using a USB connection between the radio and the antenna that can beused to provide power and/or data between the radio and the antenna,detection and/or communication between the antenna and the radio devicemay be done without the need for an additional communication linkbetween the devices. A simplified circuit for signaling the identity ofthe antenna to the radio device may use the ground pins of the USBconnection. By modifying the voltage of the ground pin, the USBconnection may be a static identifier of the antenna identity in anotherwise generic USB connection, without requiring the use of a dataline/pin of the USB connection. The circuitry involved may be extremelyrobust and simple.

In general, a radio (transceiver) may include a USB connector that mateswith a USB connector on the antenna. As described herein, thetraditionally dedicated ground pins on the USB connectors for the radioand the antenna USB connectors can be adapted to convey informationidentifying the antenna to the radio and in some variations, providecontrol information from the radio for steering the antenna. Thus,although the system does not use USB signals (Universal Serial Bussignals), instead the USB connector and standard USB cables may beadapted so that the dedicated ground pins transmit information about theidentity and control for the antenna.

For example, a radio device may include the following USB pins, and beconfigured as a micro USB connector (pins usage as follows): Pin1=PowerVCC; Pin2=Digital clock; Pin3=serial data; Pin4=ID NC; Pin5=USB GND;Shell=Earth_gnd. Similarly, the antenna device (e.g., and phased arrayantenna device) may be configured as a USB type A connector, and includethe following pin configuration: Pin1=VCC power; Pin2=Digital clock;Pin3=Serial data; Pin4=GND signal; Shell=Earth_GND.

The radio device can detect that it is connected to a phased arrayantenna so that it can then coordinate the control of the beam steering.This may be achieved using an analog circuit connected to the USB groundpin. An analog detection circuit may be used to detect when the radiodevice is connected to a particular (e.g., predetermined) type ofantenna, such as a phased array antenna having a known number of phaseangles (beam ports, N) and antenna elements (antenna ports, M).

For example, the radio USB connection may be a digital circuit that usesonly the connector Shell as Ground reference for the digitaltransmission on the USB connector. The dedicated Ground pins (pin4 onthe antenna side/pin5 on the radio side, in the example above) may beused by the radio to detect a predetermined antenna type. In somevariations the radio includes an antenna detection circuit that allowsthe detection of the antenna (e.g., phased array antenna) and givesfeedback back to radio (e.g., software controlling the radio and/orantenna) that the radio has been connected to a predetermined type ofphased array antenna. The predetermined type of antenna may include, forexample, phased array antennas having a particular number of antenna(radiating) elements and/or predetermined steering angles, predeterminedbandwidth(s), or the like.

In general, a detection circuit may be an analog detection circuit thatis operatively connected to the dedicated ground pins of the USBport(s). For example, an antenna detection circuit (or “sensing”circuit) may use two (or more) comparators that have reference voltages,and a tight tolerance resistive divider. See, e.g., FIG. 12A, showingone example of a sensing circuit. On the antenna, a signal from thededicated ground pin of the USB port (Pin4) may be used as the resistorvalue detection to ground to complete the circuit. As shown in FIG. 12A,the inputs from the USB Ground may be compared to determine the identityof the antenna. On the antenna side, a predetermined type of antenna mayhave the ground pin of the USB (pin 4) set to a particular value that isdifferent from the value that another type of antenna has, and that isdifferent from a ‘normal’ USB ground value that all other (e.g.,non-predetermined) antennas may have. For example, a first type ofphased array antenna having six RF paths with both horizontal andvertical polarization (for a total of 12 paths) that operates at aparticular frequency band, e.g., within a 5 GHz bandwidth, may have theground pin of the USB (pin 4) at (or set to) a first voltage value, anda second type of phased array antenna having eight RF paths with bothhorizontal and vertical polarization (for a total of 16) that operatesat a second frequency band, e.g., also within a 5 GHz bandwidth, mayhave the ground pin of the USB (pin 4) at (or set to) a second voltagevalue. As shown in FIGS. 12A and 12B, the sensing/detection circuit mayuse the value of the USB ground pin (Pin4) on the antenna to determinewhich of four possibilities for the connection to the antenna arepresent: default, first type of phased array antenna (beam board 1),second type of phased array antenna (beam board 2), or non-beam boardantenna. Although the sensing/detecting circuit shown in FIG. 12Aincludes only two binary digits (e.g., four possibilities), the circuitmay include additional “digits” and therefore additional numbers ofpredetermined antenna types. In this example, the antennasensing/detection circuit is an analog circuit that provides a digitaloutput to the radio and indicates the type of antenna to which it isconnected, and therefore may help the device automatically configure fortransmission/reception using the antenna. This information may also beprovided to a user or to a remote device to control and/or modifyoperation of the antenna and/or radio. Thus, in general, the radiodevice uses the dedicated USB ground signal (USB_GND) from the antennausing the USB cable connection and comparators sense the voltage andreport the result. As mentioned, the detected antenna information may bereported via output to a GPIO digital signal on a host CPU.

In variations in which the radio controls the operation of the phasedarray antenna, the radio (or a processor/remote CPU, user, etc.operating through the radio) may control the operation of the antenna.For example, in a phased array antenna in which a lens is used for beamshaping (steering), the lens board may use several digital electronicICs, and RF active parts to control the operation of the antenna,including switching the beam ports and thereby steering the antenna. Insome variations this control information may be transmitted using theUSB connection between the radio and the antenna, and data such asantenna control data, may be transmitted from the USB connection as wellas power for powering the antenna. Thus, an antenna may receive powerfrom a USB connector, such as power in from the USB connector providedby the radio, e.g., between about 4.2 to 5 VDC. The antenna may also becontrolled (e.g., steered) using control information from the USBconnection. For example, shift registers may be used to decode a serialstream of data from and convert it to parallel data, which is then fedto an RF switch matrix to select the correct RF beam on the electroniclens for beamforming (e.g., RF lens). This is shown in overview in FIG.13. In this example, the antenna receives power and data from the radio,including from the USB connection. Data from the USB connection may beused to control the beamforming as mentioned above, by controlling thephase angle select switch that selects between the plurality of beamports to select the predetermined phase angle and thereby steer thebeam. In FIG. 13, the RF switch matrix determines which of the beamports to feed particular information on so that the antenna directs thisinformation properly in space. In some variations, this circuitry isincluded as part of the lens circuitry on the antenna, as mentionedabove.

FIGS. 14A-14M show an example of one method of connecting, configuringand aligning a phased array antenna having a separate RF radio element.In this example, the phased array antenna is configured as a phasedarray base station antenna for point-to-multipoint linking. The phasedarray antenna (without the radio) in this example has dimensions ofapproximately 356×568×254 mm (14.02×22.36×10 inches), weighs about 6 kg(13.23 lb.) and is formed of primarily (e.g., the housing) of injectionmolded polycarbonate and die cast aluminum. The apparatus shown may havea frequency range of between about 5.1-5.9 GHz and a beamwidth ofapproximately 18° (with an electrical downtilt of 4°).

In this example, the RF radio is separate from the integrated phasedarray antenna, and is connected to the antenna as shown in FIGS.14A-14H. The phased array antenna apparatus shown is similar to thevariation illustrated in FIGS. 10A-F and 11, and includes a UBB port, ahorizontal RF connector and a vertical RF connector, a radio mountingbracket and a cover or shroud for the RF radio once mounted to theantenna, and mounting elements for mounting the antenna to a pole orsurface. In FIG. 14A, the RF radio device (shown in this example as aUbigiuti™ Rocket M5 AC radio, though any other appropriate transceivermay be used) is prepared for connecting to the phased array antenna byremoving a cover on the radio to expose the Ethernet connector and USBport. In FIG. 14B, the Ethernet connection may be connected to anEthernet cable. A USB cable may then be connected to the USB port, asshown in FIG. 14C, and the cover replaced over the radio device. In theexample RF radio shown, the radio includes a pair of RF connectors(e.g., horizontal component connection and vertical componentconnection). In FIG. 14D, the connectors may be connected to RF cables.

In FIG. 14E, the USB cable connected at one end to the radio device maythen be connected to the antenna's USB (e.g., USB Type A) connector onthe back of the antenna. Thereafter, the radio device may be mounted tothe back of the antenna using the radio mounting brackets, as shown inFIG. 14F, in which the radio device is slid down into the mountingbracket until locked into place. In FIG. 14G, the other ends of the RFcables (the vertical and horizontal and/or chain 1 and Chain 0) are thenconnected to the connectors on the back of the antenna, and a cover(e.g., shroud) may then be positioned over the radio and locked intoplace, covering the connections and cables. The cover may include a sealto prevent exposure to the elements (e.g., water, etc.). As describedabove, connecting the radio to the antenna may also initiate or triggerdetection (e.g., by the radio and/or antenna) that the connection hasbeen made, and further, provide information to the radio device aboutwhat type of antenna the radio has been connected to, as discussed abovein reference to FIGS. 12A and 12B. The radio may then configure itselffor transmission on and control of the phased array antenna.

As shown in FIGS. 14H to 14M, the phased array antenna apparatus(including the radio) may be mounted to a pole, wall, tree, or any otherstructure or surface. For example, in FIG. 14H, U-brackets may beattached to the back of the antenna housing and secured by mountinglugs, as shown. When mounting to a pole, pole mounts may be attached tothe brackets, as shown in FIG. 14J. Pole clamps may then be attached(shown in FIG. 14K) to the U-brackets and secured. Thereafter themounting assembly may be attached to a pole, as illustrated in FIG. 14L.For example, the pole clamps may be locked onto the mounting andtightened down by bolts. In this example, the mounting assembly isconfigured to mount to a 38-47 mm diameter pole, but the mounts may bemodified to fit any appropriate pole/surface as necessary.

Once mounted, the antenna may be adjusted (“aligned”) to set theelevation and the azimuthal field of view. Since the device may beelectrically steered, precise alignment may not be necessary, howeveradjustments may be made as shown in FIG. 14M. For example, the mountsmay be adjusted to increase or decrease the tilt (elevation adjustment),and bolts may be used to tighten/clamp the device once the desired tiltis selected.

Managing an Array of Antennae

Any of the apparatuses (systems and devices) described herein may beused as part of a wireless network. Thus, described herein are wirelessnetworks and methods and systems for managing them. Also describedherein are methods and systems for managing an array of directionalantennae (e.g., as a single antenna).

For example, described herein are methods and systems that may addressthe problem of managing an array of antennae operating as a single AP bydetermining the most suitable antenna from the array of antennae for arespective end device under the coverage of the AP and designating thatantenna for communication between the AP and the end device. Thesetechniques may also be adapted to determine steering angles for steeringa single (or group of) phased array antennas.

An end device can be any device in wireless communication with the AP(e.g., a computer, cell phone, and tablet). The AP can periodicallygenerate training packet for a respective antenna and transmit thatpacket via the corresponding antenna (or via a respective antenna in thearray of antennae) to the end devices under the coverage of the antenna.Upon receiving the packet, a respective end device generates a responsepacket comprising priority values of one or more criteria of antennaassociation (e.g., signal strength) for a respective antenna andtransmits the packet back to the AP. Based on the priority values, theAP designates the most suitable antenna of the array for the end device,thereby becomes trained for that end device.

For example, the priority value can be the measured signal strength of arespective antenna at the end device if the criterion is the signalstrength of the AP. An end device uses the response packets to notifythe AP regarding the measured signal strength of a respective antenna atthe end device. The AP then designates the antenna that has the mostdesirable measured signal strength value for subsequent communicationwith that end device. Examples of other criteria include, but are notlimited to, packet error rate and a modulation scheme. If packet errorrate is the criterion, the number of training packets successfullyreceived by an end device can be the corresponding antenna associationinformation, and the priority value is the response packets can be apacket number.

FIG. 15A illustrates an exemplary array of antennae operating as an AP,in accordance with one embodiment. In this example, in a wirelessnetwork 100, an AP 110 includes an array of directional antennae,comprising antennae 112, 114, and 116. Externally, antennae 112, 114,and 116 appear as one single AP 110 (e.g., use the same AP identifier).Horizontal beamwidths of antennae 112, 114, and 116 are 122, 124, and126, respectively. Beamwidths 122, 124, and 126 are overlapping witheach other and together these beamwidths create beamwidth 120 for AP110. In this way, antennae 112, 114, and 116 together facilitate thecoverage provided by AP 110 via beamwidth 120, thereby operating as asingle AP 110. Beamwidths 122, 124, and 126 can be different from eachother (e.g., antennae 112, 114, and 116 can have different radiationpatterns). In some embodiments, antennae 112, 114, and 116 provideMultiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) support (e.g., support for IEEE802.11n standard) to AP 110.

Note that, antennae 112, 114, and 116 operating as a single AP 110 isdifferent from an AP having a plurality of sector antennae. A sectorantenna typically creates a sector-shaped service area where the antennaprovides wireless services. In contrast, antennae 112, 114, and 116 ismanaged together to operate in conjunction with each other and create asingle service area indicated by beamwidth 120. End devices in thatservice area are provided wireless service by AP 110 via one or more ofantennae 112, 114, and 116.

Because antennae 112, 114, and 116 have individual coverage areas(represented by their respective beamwidths), for antennae 112, 114, and116 to externally appear as a single AP, these antennae have to bemanaged together. Suppose that a number of end devices 132, 134, 136,and 138 are under the coverage of AP 110. Physically, these end devicescan be covered by different antennae. For example, even though enddevices 132 and 134 consider themselves under the coverage of AP 110,end devices 132 and 134 are physically under the coverage of antennae112 and 114, respectively.

To solve this problem, AP 110 can periodically generate training packetfor a respective antenna and transmit that packet via the correspondingantenna. This training packet includes an antenna identifier of antennathat corresponding antenna. In some embodiments, a training packet is amulti-destination packet (e.g., a broadcast packet). A respectiveantenna can simply transmit this multi-destination packet periodicallyand a respective end device within the coverage of the antenna canreceive the packet. For example, AP 110 can generate a training packetfor antenna 112, include an identifier of antenna 112 in the trainingpacket, and periodically transmit the packet via antenna 112. Thetraining packet is received by a respective end device within thecoverage of antenna 112 (e.g., end devices 132 and 138). Similarly, AP110 periodically generates training packets for antennae 114 and 116,includes identifiers of antennae 114 and 116 in the correspondingpacket, and transmits the corresponding packet via antennae 114 and 116,respectively.

Upon receiving the packet, a respective end device generates a responsepacket. For example, end device 138 receives a training packet viaantenna 112, which includes an antenna identifier of identifier 112.Upon receiving the training packet, end device 138 generates a responsepacket comprising priority values of one or more criteria whichindicates end device 138's association with antenna 112. Similarly, enddevice 138 also receives a training packet via antenna 114, whichincludes an antenna identifier of identifier 114. Upon receiving thetraining packet, end device 138 generates a response packet comprisingpriority values of one or more criteria which indicates end device 138'sassociation with antenna 114.

The priority value can be the measured signal strength of antenna 112 atend device 138 if the criterion is the signal strength. In the responsepacket, end device 138 includes the identifier of antenna 112 and thesignal strength of antenna 112 measured at end device 138, and transmitsthe packet to AP 110. Similarly, in response to the training packet fromantenna 114, end device 138 measures signal strength of antenna 114 atend device 112. In the response packet, end device 138 includes theidentifier of antenna 114 and the signal strength of antenna 114measured at end device 138, and transmits the packet to AP 110.

AP 110 receives the response packets for antennae 112 and 114, extractsthe respective measured signal strengths form the respective packets,and determines which of antennae 112 and 114 has better measured signalstrength at end device 138. In some embodiments, AP 110 extracts themeasured the signal strength (or any other priority values associatedwith any other criteria) from a plurality response packets over a periodof time and designates an antenna for end device 138 based on currentand historical values (e.g., via a running average). Suppose thatantenna 112 has better measured signal strength at end device 138. AP110 then assigns antenna 112 for data communication between AP 110 andend device 138, thereby training AP 110 for designating an antenna fromthe array of antennae for end device 138. Antenna 112 can then bereferred to as the designated antenna for end device 138.

In the same way, AP 110 uses training packers to determine antenna 112,114, and 116 to be the designated antennae for communicating with enddevices 132, 134, and 136, respectively. This way of training an AP fordesignating an antenna for an end device based on actively receivingresponse packet can be referred to as active learning. Once AP 110 istrained for an end device, AP 110 uses the designated antenna tocommunicate with the end device. Communication from AP 110 to the enddevice can be referred to as downstream communication, and communicationfrom the end device to AP 110 can be referred to as upstreamcommunication.

In some embodiments, AP 110 continues to periodically transmit trainingpackets even when all end devices in the coverage of AP 110 has adesignated antenna. If an end device moves into the coverage of AP 110,the priority values associated with the end device can change. As aresult, via the continuous transmission of training packets, AP 110 canbe retrained and select a different designated antenna for the enddevice. Furthermore, when a new end device moves into the coverage of AP110, this new end device receives the training packets and sendscorresponding respond packets back. This allows AP 110 to designate anantenna for the new end device.

Radiation from a respective antenna in AP 110 can have a verticalpolarity and a horizontal polarity. The horizontal and verticalpolarities indicate the orientation of the electric field of the radiowave generated by the antenna. In this way, antennae 112, 114, and 116can have a combination of six orientations at which AP 110 can radiateradio waves. When AP 110 designates an antenna to an end device, AP 110can use both horizontal and vertical polarizations of the antenna tocommunicate with the end device.

In some embodiments, AP 110 can use one or more of vertical andhorizontal polarizations of any of antennae 112, 114, and 116 tocommunicate with an end device. Under such a scenario, AP 110 assigns anidentifier to a respective polarization of a respective antenna. When AP110 sends training packet via a respective polarization of antennae 112,114, and 116, AP 110 includes the identifier of that polarization in thecorresponding training packet. Upon receiving response packets for thecorresponding polarization, AP 110 designates one or more of thevertical and horizontal polarizations of any of antennae 112, 114, and116 to an end device. For example, based on the training, AP 110 candesignate antenna 112's radio wave with horizontal polarization forcommunicating with end device 132. In another example, AP 110 candesignate antenna 112's radio wave with vertical polarization andantenna 114's radio wave with horizontal polarization for communicatingwith end device 138. In further embodiments, for a particular enddevice, AP 110 may use two antennas simultaneously, one with horizontalpolarization and the other with vertical polarization. Suchconfiguration could be useful in indoors applications because obstacles(such as walls and ceilings) often respond differently to differentpolarizations, and using one antenna with horizontal polarization in onedirection and another antenna with vertical polarization in anotherdirection could be the most effective way of communicating with an enddevice.

In some embodiments, AP 110 uses contention-based medium sharing schemewhich requires each end device to contend for bandwidth from AP 110(e.g., to obtain permission for transmission to/from AP 110) and sendacknowledgement for each received packet. A contention-based mediumsharing scheme can be based on Institute of Electrical and ElectronicsEngineers (IEEE) 802.11 family of standards. Under such a scenario, AP110 sends individual training packet to end devices 132, 134, 136, and138. Upon receiving the packet, a respective end device sends anacknowledgement back to AP 110. AP 110 measures the priority valuesassociated with the one or more criteria based on the acknowledgement.

If the criterion is signal strength, AP 110 measures the signal strengthof a respective received acknowledgement packet and determines thedesignated antenna based on the measured signal strength values for arespective end device. For example, AP 110 measures the signal strengthof the acknowledgement packets from end device 138. AP 110 can measurethe signal strength (or any other priority values associated with anyother criteria) for a plurality of acknowledgement packets over a periodof time. Suppose that AP 110 determines that the signal strength of thereceived acknowledgement packets from end device 138 via antenna 114 isthe strongest. In response, AP 110 designates antenna 114 forcommunicating with end device 138. This way of training an AP fordesignating an antenna for an end device based on receiving wirelessacknowledgement can be referred to as passive learning.

In some embodiments, AP 110 can be managed by a remote system. FIG. 15Billustrates an exemplary system managing an array of antennae operatingas an AP. In this example, system 150 (e.g., a computing system) iscoupled to AP 110 via one or more wired and/or wireless link. System 150can locally generate training packets, and send the training packets toAP 110, or can instruct AP 110 to generate the training packets. Uponreceiving the response packets, AP 110 can send the response packets tosystem 150, which in turn extracts the priority values from the responsepackets, and designates an antenna for a respective end device. AP 110also can extract the priority values from the received response packetsand send the extracted priority values to system 150, which in turndesignates an antenna for a respective end device.

In the example in FIG. 15A, to send a multi-destination packet acrossbeamwidth of 120, AP 110 sends the packet via antennae 112, 114, and116. To solve this problem, the array of antennae in AP 110 can includea broadcast antenna. FIG. 15C illustrates an exemplary an array ofantennae, which includes a broadcast antenna, operating as an AP. Inthis example, AP 110 includes a broadcast antenna 118 with a beamwidth128, which fully overlaps with beamwidth 120. If AP 110 needs to send amulti-destination packet (e.g., a broadcast, a multicast, or an unknownunicast packet), instead of sending the packet individually via antennae112, 114, and 116, AP 110 transmits the packet via antenna 118 to enddevices 132, 134, 136, and 138. Furthermore, when AP 110 has not beentrained for an end device (e.g., a new end device has moved into thecoverage of AP 110), AP 110 can use antenna 118 to communicate with thatend device.

FIG. 15D illustrates an exemplary an array of antennae, which includes avirtual broadcast antenna, operating as an AP. In this example, AP 110includes a virtual broadcast antenna 160, which is logically coupled toantennae 112, 114, and 116. If AP 110 needs to send a multi-destinationpacket, AP 110 sends the packet to virtual broadcast antenna 160. As aresult, the corresponding radio frequency (RF) signal is sent toantennae 112, 114, and 116. In turn, each of antennae 112, 114, and 116transmits the packet in its corresponding coverage area. In this way,the packet is transmitted across beamwidth 120 toward end devices 132,134, 136, and 138.

FIG. 16A presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of an APactively learning antenna association of end devices. During operation,the AP constructs training packets comprising the corresponding antennaidentifier for respective antenna (operation 202) and transmits thetraining packets via corresponding antenna of the AP (operation 204). Insome embodiments, the training packets are multi-destination packets.The AP receives response packets corresponding to the training packetsfrom respective end device (operation 206). The AP then extracts thecorresponding antenna identifier and priority values of one or morecriteria from received response packets (operation 208). For arespective received response packet, the AP identifies the antennaassociated with the extracted priority values from the response packetbased on the extracted antenna identifier (operation 210). Thisoperation allows the AP to associate the priority values with theantenna for which an end device has determined the priority values. Fora respective end device, the AP then determines the designated antennabased on the extracted the priority values (operation 212). In someembodiments, the AP extracts the priority values from a pluralityresponse packets over a period of time and designates an antenna for anend device based on current and historical values (e.g., via a runningaverage).

FIG. 16B presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of anend device facilitating active learning of antenna association. Duringoperation, the end device receives a training packet comprising antennaidentifier from an AP (operation 254) and determines the priority valuesof one or more criteria (operation 254). The end device then constructsa response packet for corresponding antenna comprising the antennaidentifier and the determined priority values (operation 256) andtransmits the response packet to the AP (operation 258). In someembodiments, the end device transmits the response packet to the antennaassociated with the antenna identifier. Examples of a criterion include,but are not limited to, signal strength, packer error rate, and amodulation scheme. Examples of a priority value include, but are notlimited to, measured signal strength at an end device, a packetidentifier, and the bit error rate associated with a modulation scheme.

In some embodiments, an AP uses contention-based medium sharing schemewhich requires each end device to contend for bandwidth from the AP(e.g., to obtain permission for transmission to/from the AP) and sendacknowledgement for each received packet. In some embodiments, an FIG.17 presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary process of an APpassively learning antenna association of end devices. During operation,the AP constructs a training packet for a respective antenna comprisingthe corresponding antenna identifier for a respective end device(operation 302). The AP then transmits the training packet via thecorresponding antenna (i.e., the antenna associated with the antennaidentifier) of the AP to the corresponding end device (i.e., the enddevice for which the training packet is intended for) (operation 304).The AP receives a wireless acknowledgement from the corresponding enddevice for the corresponding training packet (operation 306). In someembodiments, the wireless acknowledgement is based on the IEEE 802.11family of standards. For the corresponding end device, the AP determinesthe priority values of one or more criteria for the correspondingantenna based on the received acknowledgement (operation 308) anddetermines the designated antenna based on determined priority values(operation 310). In some embodiments, the AP determines the priorityvalues from a plurality acknowledgement packets over a period of timeand designates an antenna for an end device based on current andhistorical values (e.g., via a running average).

FIG. 18 presents an exemplary TDMA channel access method of an AP. TheAP divides its communication time into a plurality of timeframes 402 and404. A respective timeframe includes an upstream part and a downstreampart. For example, timeframe 402 includes an upstream part 412 and adownstream part 414, and timeframe 404 includes an upstream part 416 anda downstream part 418.

The AP divides the downstream part of a timeframe into timeslots amongthe end devices under its coverage. In some embodiments, the timeslotsof downstream part 412 are not equal and can be based on the bandwidthrequirement and/or provisioning of an end device. If the AP has four enddevices under its coverage, as described in conjunction with FIG. 15A,the AP divides upstream part 412 into four timeslots 422, 424, 426, and428, and allocate a timeslot for a corresponding end device. The APtransmits downstream packets to an end device during its allocatedtimeslot.

The AP divides the upstream part of a timeframe into a dedicated part452 and a common part 454. The AP further divides dedicated part 452into timeslots among the end devices under its coverage. In someembodiments, timeslots of dedicated part 452 are not equal and can bebased on the bandwidth requirement and/or provisioning of an end device.If the AP has four end devices under its coverage, as described inconjunction with FIG. 15A, the AP divides dedicated part 452 into fourtimeslots 432, 434, 436, and 438, and allocate a timeslot for arespective end device with more packets than a threshold. The end devicetransmits upstream packets to the AP during its allocated timeslot. Ifan end device does not have more packets than a threshold, the enddevice contend with other end devices under the coverage of the APduring common part 454 and transmits the packet to the AP if the enddevice is allowed to transmit based on the contention. In someembodiments, the contention is based on IEEE 802.11 family of standards.Note that the end devices with downstream timeslots can also contendduring common part 454.

FIG. 19A presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary downstreamtransmission process of an AP. During operation, the AP receives a datapacket for an end device (operation 502) and determines for the packetthe next available downstream timeslot associated with the end device(operation 504). The AP then checks whether the AP has been trained forthe end device (operation 506). If the AP has been trained for the enddevice, the AP selects the designated antenna associated with the enddevice (operation 512) and transmits the packet via the designatedantenna during the determined timeslot (operation 514). Otherwise, theAP transmits the packet via a physical/virtual broadcast antenna duringthe determined timeslot (operation 516), as described in conjunctionwith FIGS. 15C and 15D. This allows the AP to transmit packets to an enddevice for which the AP has not been trained for an antenna association(e.g., when a new end device comes under the coverage of the AP).

FIG. 19B presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary upstreamreception process of an AP based on dedicated timeslots. Duringoperation, the AP initiates dedicated upstream part of current timeframe(operation 532) and determines a timeslot for a respective end devicewith more packets than a threshold (operation 534). An end device cannotify the AP regarding the number of packets (or the amount of data) tobe transmitted to the AP (e.g., via piggybacking or messaging). The APthen checks whether the AP has been trained for the corresponding enddevice (operation 536). If the AP has been trained for the correspondingend device, the AP selects the designated antenna associated with theend device (operation 542) and listens for a packet via the designatedantenna during the determined timeslot (operation 544). Otherwise, theAP listens for a packet via a physical/virtual broadcast antenna duringthe determined timeslot (operation 546). In this way, the AP can receivea packet from an end device for which the AP has not been trained for anantenna association (e.g., when a new end device comes under thecoverage of the AP).

FIG. 19C presents a flowchart illustrating an exemplary upstreamtransmission process of an end device. During operation, the end devicegenerates an upstream data packet (operation 552) and checks whether theend device has more data packets than a threshold (operation 554). Ifso, the end device determines the next available upstream timeslotassociated with end device for the packet (operation 556) and transmitsthe packet during determined timeslot (operation 558). Otherwise, theend device contends for upstream transmission time during the commonupstream time (operation 560) and checks for obtained transmission timevia contention (operation 562). If the end device has obtainedtransmission time via contention, the end device transmits the packetduring obtained time via contention (operation 564). Otherwise, the enddevice waits for the upstream part of the next timeframe (operation566).

Exemplary AP System

FIG. 20 illustrates an exemplary AP system that comprises an array ofantennae operating as the AP system. In this example, an AP system 600includes a processor 602, a memory 604, and a communication module 606,which can include a radio transceiver and an array of antennae (notshown). Communication module 606 communicates with a respective enddevice, as described in conjunction with FIGS. 19A and 19B.

Also included in AP system are a training module 608, a channel accessmodule 610, and a contention module 612. During operation, trainingmodule 608 trains a respective end device for designating an antennafrom the array of antennae for the end device, as described inconjunction with FIGS. 16A and 3. Channel access module 610 facilitateschannel access to end devices, as described in conjunction with FIG. 18.Contention module 612 facilitates contention-based channel access, asdescribed in conjunction with FIGS. 17 and 18.

FIG. 8A illustrates an exemplary antenna array, and FIG. 8B presents aperspective view of this antenna array. In this example, an antennasystem 800 includes an array of antenna elements 804 which are placed ona housing 801. Note that during normal operation housing 801 may alsoinclude a cover which protects antenna elements 804 from the elements ofweather. Housing 801 also includes a pair of flares 802, which are madefrom metal and extend at an angle. Flares 802 improve rejection of noisefrom directions that are not useful for antenna system 800, such as frombehind or on the sides of antenna system 800.

In one embodiment, antenna element array 804 may include a number ofcolumns of antenna elements. One column (for example, the right-mostcolumn) can be used to transmit omni-directional signals (i.e., thesignals are transmitted through these elements in a pass-through mode).The rest of the columns of antenna elements are used to generatedirectional beam transmission based on phase change introduced to thesignal path to each antenna elements. In one embodiment, a subset of theantenna elements are used for transmission of horizontally polarizedsignals and phase manipulation is used to achieve different beamdirections for such horizontally polarized signals, as a result ofinterference of signals transmitted by these antenna elements.Similarly, another subset of the antenna elements is used fortransmission of vertically polarized signals in various directions.

In one embodiment, antenna system 800 can also include a signalprocessing module which is responsible for distributing the signals toantenna elements 804 and facilitating appropriate phase changes to thesignals to achieve the desired beam directions.

As mentioned above, a phased array antenna (as illustrated in FIGS.1A-3E above) is another example of an AP system that comprises an arrayof antennae elements that can be operated as the AP system describedabove. In this example, the AP system includes a processor, a memory,and a communication module, which can include a radio transceiver and anarray of antennae (the phased array antenna). A communication modulecommunicates with the various devices to which the phased array antennais aimed. FIG. 22 is another example of a system 2201 of a phase-shiftedset of antennas that may be operated as described herein; in thisexample, a plurality of antennas 2203 each receive phase-shifted input2207 that is delayed 2205 in a predetermined manner. The inputs 2209,2211 may be from a single radio device (e.g., having a vertical andhorizontal polarization.

Similarly, the array of antennas may be an array of sector antennas, asillustrated in FIG. 21. In this example three sector antennas 2105,2105′, 2105″ are connected to a single radio device 2101 through aswitch 2103. The system may be controlled as described above to operateas an AP system.

The methods and processes described in the detailed description sectioncan be embodied as code and/or data, which can be stored in acomputer-readable storage device as described above. When a computersystem reads and executes the code and/or data stored on thecomputer-readable storage device, the computer system performs themethods and processes embodied as data structures and code and storedwithin the computer-readable storage medium.

Furthermore, methods and processes described herein can be included inhardware modules or apparatus. These modules or apparatus may include,but are not limited to, an application-specific integrated circuit(ASIC) chip, a field-programmable gate array (FPGA), a dedicated orshared processor that executes a particular software module or a pieceof code at a particular time, and/or other programmable-logic devicesnow known or later developed. When the hardware modules or apparatus areactivated, they perform the methods and processes included within them.

In some variations of the phased array antenna devices (such as thoseconfigured to operate as access points) described herein, the apparatusmay include a plurality of antenna emitting elements such as those shownin FIG. 6B, but RF beam forming may be performed using a plurality ofphase shifting elements, as shown in FIG. 22. As discussed above, acontroller may select the phase angles to set the phase shiftingelements to steer the beam (e.g., select a directional beam) from thedevice. Such a configuration may be particularly helpful when TDMA isused in which the apparatus can assign each of a plurality of stationdevices that communicate with the access point (and particularlystationary access points) a directional beam (as described above, e.g.,by transmitting training packets and receiving response packets). Themethods described herein permit training with relatively low overheaddemands, as training packets don't have to be transmitted very often.Any of these methods may also allow the access point apparatus toassociate multiple directional beams to the same antenna, including onefor receiving data from the station at the AP (uplink directional beam)and transmitting data to the station from the AP (downlink directionalbeam). In addition, any of the systems described herein may also beconfigured for operation as MIMO (multiuser MIMO) systems; for example,both horizontal and vertical polarizations may be used fortransmission/reception between the AP and a station.

In the apparatuses and devices described herein, assigning a directionalbeam to a station may be done iteratively, particularly in variations inwhich a phase shifting array is used to form the directional beam(s).Any of these systems may have a large number of possible directions(e.g., phase angles) for the beamforming, based on the signals sent toeach of the phase shift elements in the array of phase shifters. Thus,in some variations, an iterative process of selecting an initial rangeof directional beams that are broadly separated (e.g., five directionalbeams, extending between −45 and +45) may be initially used. Wheninformation received from one or more response packet specific to adevice indicates the “best” directional beam (e.g., based on thecriteria for directional beam selection described above), a second (ormore) round of training packets may be sent out over a narrower range ofdirectional beams, e.g., if the best response packet corresponded to the−22.5 directional beam, then the next five training packets may bebetween −32.5 and −12.5. This process may be repeated again for eachstation, either separately for each station or as a group for some ofthe stations. Thus, the assignment of directional beams to specifictarget devices may be fine-tuned.

As mentioned above, e.g., in reference to the response packets describedherein typically refer to a particular directional beam, station, andone or more criteria for directional beam selection. For example, acriteria for selecting the directional beam (the “goodness” of aparticular directional beam) may include information such as the CINR,or carrier to interference noise ratio. This information may indicate aninterferer that is relevant only in one direction (e.g., upstreamtransmission) and may therefore allow the selection of differentupstream and downstream directional beams, as described above.

For example, an AP apparatus may send out a common training packet(e.g., from each directional beam or from a broadband beam spanning allor most beam angles) during beam training. CINR may be included as partof the information transmitted. For example, an AP may be using aspecific beam combination (e.g., the AP could get a reading for Tx andRx for each station device, including the CINR). An interfere may bepresent in a given direction, e.g., from nearby beams that are close(but not too far away) that the system may want to avoid. A beamtraining packet (e.g., broadcast packet) may be used to minimize thelink capacity for learning packets. The AP may assign a special slot tosend back beam training packets during operation. For downlink there maynot be a special slot when, e.g., a general training packet is broadcastto all stations. There may be contention in the uplink, because theremay be multiple stations, which can't be ‘heard’ by the AP at the sametime. The AP may assign slots (e.g., uplink/downlink time slots)dynamically and based on requirement, rather than dedicating a slot toeach station, in order to enhance efficiency, so that only thosestations that have a need to transmit to the AP above a threshold value(or other otherwise prioritized) may be assigned a predetermined slot.In the contention period (or common period), the AP may receive signalfrom any of the stations, those that did not require a dedicated slot oftime or needed slightly more time than permitted by the assigned slot.The AP may therefor dedicate a training slot to send CINR trainingpacket, so as to avoid collision. When the AP provides CINR trainingslots, so that the AP will listen on a particular beam, the CINR may betransmitted and used to determine assignment of directional beams and/orrate of transfer information. For example, CINR may be encoded in onebit, so that each station has a time-series value for CINR; once the APputs a beam dimension to the CINR training value, it may bin thisaccording to the directional beam, and it can be sorted based on CINR(e.g., beam and time). Adding another dimension (beam) and each beamwill have a time series of CINR values). Thus, the use of CINR values,either as part of the training packet or as part of a separate packetmay enhance the determination of the directional beam for each station.

The foregoing descriptions of various embodiments have been presentedonly for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intendedto be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the formsdisclosed. Accordingly, many modifications and variations will beapparent to practitioners skilled in the art. Additionally, the abovedisclosure is not intended to limit the present invention.

When a feature or element is herein referred to as being “on” anotherfeature or element, it can be directly on the other feature or elementor intervening features and/or elements may also be present. Incontrast, when a feature or element is referred to as being “directlyon” another feature or element, there are no intervening features orelements present. It will also be understood that, when a feature orelement is referred to as being “connected”, “attached” or “coupled” toanother feature or element, it can be directly connected, attached orcoupled to the other feature or element or intervening features orelements may be present. In contrast, when a feature or element isreferred to as being “directly connected”, “directly attached” or“directly coupled” to another feature or element, there are nointervening features or elements present. Although described or shownwith respect to one embodiment, the features and elements so describedor shown can apply to other embodiments. It will also be appreciated bythose of skill in the art that references to a structure or feature thatis disposed “adjacent” another feature may have portions that overlap orunderlie the adjacent feature.

Terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particularembodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention.For example, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” areintended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearlyindicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms“comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification,specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements,and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of oneor more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/orgroups thereof. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and allcombinations of one or more of the associated listed items and may beabbreviated as “/”.

Spatially relative terms, such as “under”, “below”, “lower”, “over”,“upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description todescribe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) orfeature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that thespatially relative terms are intended to encompass differentorientations of the device in use or operation in addition to theorientation depicted in the figures. For example, if a device in thefigures is inverted, elements described as “under” or “beneath” otherelements or features would then be oriented “over” the other elements orfeatures. Thus, the exemplary term “under” can encompass both anorientation of over and under. The device may be otherwise oriented(rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relativedescriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. Similarly, the terms“upwardly”, “downwardly”, “vertical”, “horizontal” and the like are usedherein for the purpose of explanation only unless specifically indicatedotherwise.

Although the terms “first” and “second” may be used herein to describevarious features/elements, these features/elements should not be limitedby these terms, unless the context indicates otherwise. These terms maybe used to distinguish one feature/element from another feature/element.Thus, a first feature/element discussed below could be termed a secondfeature/element, and similarly, a second feature/element discussed belowcould be termed a first feature/element without departing from theteachings of the present invention.

As used herein in the specification and claims, including as used in theexamples and unless otherwise expressly specified, all numbers may beread as if prefaced by the word “about” or “approximately,” even if theterm does not expressly appear. The phrase “about” or “approximately”may be used when describing magnitude and/or position to indicate thatthe value and/or position described is within a reasonable expectedrange of values and/or positions. For example, a numeric value may havea value that is +/−0.1% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−1%of the stated value (or range of values), +/−2% of the stated value (orrange of values), +/−5% of the stated value (or range of values), +/−10%of the stated value (or range of values), etc. Any numerical rangerecited herein is intended to include all sub-ranges subsumed therein.

Although various illustrative embodiments are described above, any of anumber of changes may be made to various embodiments without departingfrom the scope of the invention as described by the claims. For example,the order in which various described method steps are performed mayoften be changed in alternative embodiments, and in other alternativeembodiments one or more method steps may be skipped altogether. Optionalfeatures of various device and system embodiments may be included insome embodiments and not in others. Therefore, the foregoing descriptionis provided primarily for exemplary purposes and should not beinterpreted to limit the scope of the invention as it is set forth inthe claims.

The examples and illustrations included herein show, by way ofillustration and not of limitation, specific embodiments in which thesubject matter may be practiced. As mentioned, other embodiments may beutilized and derived there from, such that structural and logicalsubstitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scopeof this disclosure. Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter maybe referred to herein individually or collectively by the term“invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarilylimit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventiveconcept, if more than one is, in fact, disclosed. Thus, althoughspecific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, anyarrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substitutedfor the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to coverany and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments.Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments notspecifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in theart upon reviewing the above description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of operating an access point in awireless network, wherein the access point is configured to operate aplurality of directional beams, the method comprising: transmitting atraining packet from the access point and receiving response packetsfrom a plurality of station devices, wherein the response packetincludes an identifier specific to a directional beam transmitting thetraining packet and a priority value associated with one or morecriteria for directional beam selection; assigning each of the pluralityof station devices one of the directional beams from the plurality ofdirectional beams based on the received response packets; allocatingupstream timeslots to each of the plurality of station device andallocating general upstream timeslots that are not associated with asingle station device; receiving data at a first rate at the accessdevice from a station device of the plurality of station devices duringan upstream timeslot allocated to the station device and using thedirectional beam assigned for the station device; receiving data at asecond data rate at the access device from a station device of theplurality of station devices during a second upstream timeslot that is ageneral upstream timeslot; wherein, for at least some of the pluralityof station devices, the first rate has a different modulation schemethan the second rate.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first rateis higher than the second rate.
 3. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving data at the second rate comprises using a directional beamthat is different from the directional beam assigned to the stationdevice.
 4. The method of claim 1, further comprising allocatingdownstream timeslots to each of the plurality of stations devices andtransmitting data at a third rate to a station device of the pluralityof stations during a downstream timeslot allocated to the station deviceand using the directional beam assigned for the station device.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, further comprising allocating downstream timeslots toeach of the plurality of stations devices and transmitting data at thefirst rate to a station device of the plurality of stations during adownstream timeslot allocated to the station device and using thedirectional beam assigned for the station device.
 6. A method ofoperating an access point in a wireless network, wherein the accesspoint is configured to operate a plurality of directional beams, themethod comprising: transmitting a training packet from the access pointand receiving response packets from a plurality of station devices,wherein the response packet includes an identifier specific to adirectional beam transmitting the training packet and a priority valueassociated with one or more criteria for directional beam selection;assigning each of the plurality of station devices one of thedirectional beams from the plurality of directional beams as adownstream directional beam, based on the received response packets;assigning each of the plurality of station devices one of thedirectional beams from the plurality of directional beams as an upstreamdirectional beam, wherein at least one of the station devices has anassigned downstream directional beam that is different from its assignedupstream directional beam; allocating upstream timeslots to each of theplurality of station device and allocating general upstream timeslotsthat are not associated with a single station device; receiving data ata first rate at the access device from a station device of the pluralityof station devices during an upstream timeslot allocated to the stationdevice and using the directional beam assigned for the station device;receiving data at a second data rate at the access device from a stationdevice of the plurality of station devices during a second upstreamtimeslot that is a general upstream timeslot; wherein, for at least someof the plurality of station devices, the first rate has a differentmodulation scheme than the second rate.
 7. The method of claim 1,further comprising receiving data at a fourth rate at the access devicefrom a second station device of the plurality of station devices duringa third upstream timeslot allocated to the second station device andusing the directional beam assigned for the second station device;receiving data at the second data rate at the access device from thesecond station device during a fourth upstream timeslot that is ageneral upstream timeslot.
 8. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtransmitting data from the access point to one or more of the pluralityof station devices.
 9. The method of claim 1, further comprisingtransmitting data from the access point to one or more of the pluralityof station devices, wherein transmitting data comprises transmittingdata from a phase array antenna forming the access point, wherein thephase array antenna phase array antenna comprises phase anglesassociated with directional beams from the plurality of directionalbeams.
 10. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting datafrom the access point to one or more of the plurality of station deviceswherein transmitting data comprises transmitting data from a phase arrayantenna at different phase angles wherein the phase array antennaincludes a plurality of phase shifters configured to select thedirectional beams of the access point.
 11. The method of claim 1,further comprising transmitting data from the access point to one ormore of the plurality of station devices wherein transmitting datacomprises transmitting data from a phase array antenna at differentphase angles wherein the phase array antenna includes a radio frequency(RF) lens configured to select the directional beams of the accesspoint.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the response packet includes areference to the station device transmitting the response packet, aswell as an indicator of one or more of: signal strength; packet errorrate; or a modulation scheme.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein thepriority value associated with one or more criteria for directional beamselection comprises a carrier to interference noise ratio (CINR), anerror vector magnitude (EVM) or both a CINR and EVM.